The idea of cuddling a soft, plushy teddy bear brings a sense of nostalgia for many of us, taking us back to when we were children. But as adults, what many of us find is that there is an artistry there – a rarity, that makes these bears something genuinely special. It’s no wonder that demand for collectible and antique teddy bears has increased more than 20% over the last year.

Several companies produce designer teddy bears, but few are better known than Steiff. They were one of the first toymakers to create a teddy bear, and today are known for their highly collectible bears, both vintage versions and new ones still for sale today.

The German toy company produced their first stuffed bears in 1902. By 1907, they were selling almost a million teddy bears every year to children in the USA and abroad.

Steiff bear collectors appreciate both the early, antique bears from the first half of the 20th century and the more recent, high quality collectors series. Because of the demand, Steiff bears are a valuable collectors’ item - in addition to sharing the “cuteness” that have made these bears popular for both children and adults.

Which Steiff Teddy Bears Hold the Most Value?

The most expensive Steiff bear - in fact, the most expensive teddy bear ever - was a custom made “Louis Vuitton” bear. It sold for over $180K in a charity auction in 2000.

While the Louis Vuitton bear may be the ultimate collectable bear, many vintage Steiff bears and collectible bears are sought after for their rarity. The number of Steiff bears available today is limited as many antique animals were well loved and did not survive the last hundred years. For others, Steiff’s limited production runs kept collectible bears unique. Some of those most coveted by collectors include:

• Original Steiff Bears - The first order of Steiff bears was for 3,000 “PB 55” bears to be shipped to a buyer in New York. They never showed up. There are many theories about what happened to these original bears, but collectors are holding out hope that they still exist.
• Metal Rod Bears - Early bears before 1905 had a metal skeleton that made their limbs moveable. Only several thousand of these bears remain.
• Titanic Mourning Bear - After the Titanic sank in 1912, Steiff released 665 “mourning bears” with black fur to commemorate the disaster and eyes backed in red felt to represent the sadness.
• Steiff Hot Water Bottle Bear - This bear came with a tin hot water bottle for warming a child’s bed. They were on the market between 1907 and 1914, but did not sell well, so few exist today.

These are the most collectible, yet almost all Steiff bears hold some value to collectors. In general, the older the bear – provided it is in good condition - the rarer and more valuable it is.

How to Identify a Collectible Steiff Bear

Teddy bears differ greatly in shapes and sizes, but a few characteristics set Steiff bears apart. Most notably, from 1904 onward Steiff sewed a button into the ear of each of their plush bears, affectionately known as “Button in Ear.” Early buttons had an engraved elephant, but Steiff later switched to their company name. If there is no button after years of wear, a hole in the ear may mean that there was a button.

Whether you are searching for hard to find antique Steiff teddy bears or are looking for a collectors’ item that will easily bring joy to your life, you can find a range of vintage bears here:

https://marpleantiques.com.au/teddy-bears/