Steiff: “Only the Best”   The Steiff brand is universally recognized as the market leader in design, quality of materials, and excellence in production.  Both vintage and new Steiff items are considered highly collectible and a good investment.  Steiff items are passed on from generation to generation as family heirlooms.   In 1877, Margarete Steiff began to sell handmade garments and household articles.  In 1880, the first of many Steiff animals was created.  Margarete Steiff once said, “Only the best is good enough for children”, and that legacy of quality has endured for over 125 years.  Steiff animals continued to gain in popularity, reaching a hallmark year in 1905 when Margarete’s nephew, Richard, created a “new look” bear which became the world-renowned Teddy-bear.    Even before 1900, Steiff had pictured several breeds of dogs in their catalogues, but Steiff dogs remained average sellers until about the time of the First World War.  However, in 1920, their popularity increased and they became the company’s top seller.  The plush dog, “Molly”, first offered in 1925, was Steiff’s greatest success after the Teddy-bear.  Steiff dogs remain very popular and sought after today.   From November 1904 onward, every Steiff animal leaving the factory had a “Button in Ear”. This ingenious idea marked the launch of a world-famous trademark: Steiff’s “Button in Ear.”   We are honored to offer two lines of Steiff animals: Classic and Cosy Friends.   Steiff’s Classic items are products designed primarily for adults and collectors.  These items are gorgeous, high quality collectibles designed to be intergenerational heirlooms.  These include lifelike, authentic looking plush, felt and mohair animals, including limited editions and historical replicas.  Classic items are all crafted in Germany, using century-old manufacturing techniques.   Cosy Friends, on the other hand, are designed for hands-on fun and companionship for youngsters; a line of adorable, non-allergenic, fully washable ultra-soft woven and knitted fur.  This includes the exciting AKC line of canines, priced for broad family appeal.    Please browse through our wonderful Steiff collection to experience what Steiff considers a “Friend for Life.”  Let your child, or the child within you, come play, grow, learn, discover, cuddle, celebrate, enjoy, travel, explore, collect and shine with Steiff!   Please scroll down for more information and the History of Steiff

History Of The Steiff Button & Chest Tags

96 years of the "Button in Ear" trademark

Steiff "Button in Ear" symbolizes the fascinating development of a trademark that has become a symbol of ultimate quality for toys. This trademark stands for

high-quality products   good design   perfect workmanship   maximum emotional intensity   personality   brand prestige / image   increase in value   equally valuable as a toy, a gift     or an ornament   suitable for children   compliance with the most     stringent safety requirements

The Steiff "Button in Ear" trademark is the soul of the product.

Franz Steiff Franz Steiff, one of Margarete's nephews and the company's chief technician, invented the "Button in Ear" in 1904. From 1st November 1904 onwards, a metal button embossed with an elephant was attached to every Steiff product.

An ingenious idea, that has essentially remained unchanged right through to the present day and, as well as being a trademark, is also regarded as being a mark of absolute top quality. The "first" button

Steiff "Button in Ear" world-famous trademark was born - Steiff The term "Button in Ear" was registered as a trademark on 20th December 1904 and patented on 13th May 1905. The "Button in Ear" was then supplemented by a fabric tag with the product number printed on it in 1908/09. A trademark allows us to identify the origin of an article. Although only slight changes have been made to the button over the years, these were sufficient to offer today's Steiff animal collectors a means of determining the approximate date of a particular animal's manufacture. The various types of button are shown below, with reference to typical representatives of the respective periods:

1904/05   1904/05   1908 - 1911 This was the first one: the elephant button (Ø 6 mm) Blank Button (Ø 6 mm), iron, nickel-plated Button (Ø 4 mm), iron, nickel-plated, with the word Steiff (with the F drawn back as far as the E) 1910/11 - 1927 1925 - 1934/35 1933/34 - 1943 Button (Ø 4 mm), iron, nickel-plated, with the word Steiff, (with the F drawn back as far as the E) Button (Ø 8 mm), iron, nickel-plated, with the word Steiff Button (Ø 6 mm), brass, with inscription; the final F is only drawn back as far as the preceding letter 1948 - 1950 1948 - 1950 1950 A grey-blue lacquered iron button (Ø 7 mm) was used shortly afterwards A blank nickel button (Ø 5 mm) was also being used at the same time Button (Ø 6 mm), with the word Steiff 1950 1950 - 1952 1952/53 Button (Ø 6 mm), with the word Steiff Button (Ø 6 mm), iron, nickel-plated, with the word steiff (the final F is only drawn back as far as the preceding letter) Nickel button (Ø 5 mm), with inscription in script typeface. 1960 - 1972 1967 - 1977 1969 - 1977 Nickel button (Ø 5 mm), with the word Steiff Nickel button in the form of a hollow rivet Nickel button (Ø 5 mm, rounded off), with very small lettering (recessed where previously raised) 1977 - 1981 1980 - 1982 1982 - 1986 Button, brass, zapon-varnished (Ø 8 mm), recessed script typeface Button (Ø 8 mm), brass, zapon-varnished, with the word Steiff, recessed Differs from predecessor: button (Ø 9 mm), brass, zapon-varnished, with slightly convex surface and other connecting elements that are not visible from outside 1986 1986 - 1999 since October 2000 Button unchanged since 1986 The button remains unchanged. The front face of the button remains unchanged. Modern technology is now used for the concealed rivet joint.

In the anniversary year 2004, all replicas and limited-edition articles feature a gold-plated button bearing the elephant motif,…. …while "Bear 43 PAB 1904" boasts a stainless steel elephant button.       The specially-designed Margarete Steiff Edition products feature a button made of brushed stainless steel and embossed with the initials MS, plus the black ear tag with silver lettering. Note: Blank Buttons are used for SECONDS (like clothing seconds that have the label cut) rejected in the Quality Control Program. These can be found on the market so be careful and demand only The Best as seconds will not retain value. Note: The exact date of an item cannot be determined with the reference to the button alone, as the various techniques overlapped. This means, for example, that older buttons were fitted while others were being produced. The quoted dates must therefore be used as orientation aids and may not be regarded as being an absolute means of ascertaining the age of an article. In 1926, pendants, made of card, were also tied round the neck of all products. These changed in appearance over the years.

Pendant (1926 - 1928)   Pendant (1928 - 1950)   Pendant (1950 - 1972)   Pendant (from 1972)

Pendant (from 1983 for replicas dating back before 1928)   Pendant (from 1983 for replicas dating back to the 1950s and 1960s)   Pendant (from 1984 for replicas dating back to 1928-1950)