Collectable Bears From Steiff

We all had a most favorite stuffed animal when we were young, and as adults, this fondness of our stuffed toys has prompted us to become collectors of them, especially those made by Steiff.

Stuffed animals that are in great condition are sought after by collectors at auctions and fairs.

The Steiff stuffed animals history begins in the town of Giengen an der Brenz in Germany, around 1880.

Margarete Steiff, a wheelchair bound seamstress, made toy animals from her own designs as a hobby.

She designed and created cute animals, such as cats, dogs, pigs and elephants.

The company, as we know it today, began when Margarete's nephew Richard Steiff invented the first bear with jointed limbs in 1902.

This bear rapidly became popular in the US and around the world, as it won first place at the World Exhibition in St. Louis in 1904.

It later became known as the teddy bear, named after President Teddy Roosevelt.

Steiff is well known for its superior quality stuffed animals, and they are still produced today in the town of Giengen.

Today, Giengen is the location of the Steiff factory and Adventure museum, and the town is a mecca for those who are fans and collectors of stuffed animals.

The museum tells the history of the products and a gift shop sells bears, replicas of past animal products, historic catalogues and porcelain.

The Steiff Classic range is the top end of the product line, with hand made Steiff stuffed animals of wild animals, farm animals and the famous bears.

Several of the designs are said to date back to the early 1900's.

There is also a bear with a stitched on Valentine's heart, which makes a romantic gift.

The range also includes characters from the Beatrix Potter stories, including Peter Rabbit and the Mrs. Tiggy Winkle hedgehog.

Another children's favorite is available in Paddington Bear, with his trademark blue hat and red duffle coat.

The majority of Steiff baby animals are created with babies and toddlers in mind.

Crafted from high quality, durable materials, the collection includes kittens, puppies and lambs.

The Cosy Animal selections by Steiff are machine washable.  Other products in the line include clothing, bags, keyrings and gift sets made especially for children.

Another great collection is the Steiff Limited Edition selection that showcases a pink and grey replica of the world famous 1908 teddy bear.

This selection also includes a Pierrot Bear, a Moon Bear and a fantastic Grizzly Bear.

This range also has a stuffed Rupert Bear, another favorite character from story books.

Although Steiff produces several categories of stuffed animals, the will always be known for creating the teddy bear.