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Please note, if you have not bid with James D. Julia in the past, it is essential that you contact Melanie DiFloures at mdifloures@jamesdjulia.com or 207-453-7125 at least seven days prior to the auction for pre-approval to participate in this sales event. Please have credit references and credit card information available in order to expedite the bid registration process.

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Steffes Collection of Steiff Animals

This once-in-a-lifetime sale features the amazing Steiff collection of the beloved and well-known Steiff enthusiasts Chuck and the late Cathy Steffes of Galax, Virginia. Chuck and Cathy built this remarkable assembly together over several decades; each of the 120 lots being offered could easily be the crown jewel in any Steiff collection. The Steffes’ collection is amazingly comprehensive, impeccably curated, and reflects the finest examples of Steiff design, quality, and craftsmanship from the turn of last century through the early 1950s. This will be without a doubt the most exciting and most anticipated United States based Steiff sales event of the decade!

The Steffes’ collection is like a “who’s who” of the most famous and cherished Steiff patterns; it also includes many astonishing treasures and unique one of a kind examples – including “muster” or in-house company samples. Exceptional Steiff Teddy highlights include a rod jointed bear, a very early disk jointed elephant buttoned bear, numerous five clawed bears, a rare black Titanic mourning bear, a bright yellow “Happy” styled wide-eyed bear, a complete Teddy Clown bear, a blue eyed Petsy bear, and a Dicky bear. The collection features numerous extremely large Steiff Teds – some as big as toddlers – as well as many fine examples of the company’s highly desirable “center seam” style bears. In addition, this collection also showcases a marvelous assortment of fine German Bing bears, early and important Steiff cats, and often colorful and always playful early Steiff rabbits. This grouping truly offers something for everyone!

According to Rebekah Kaufman, Consultant Steiff Archivist for Steiff North America, who cataloged this collection, “I am profoundly grateful and honored to have been asked to handle Chuck and Cathy’s world-class collection. Reviewing the items at Julia’s was like walking through the Steiff archives in Germany or the Dollhouse Museum in Switzerland-but only better because I could actually touch the treasures! The items overall are extraordinary in terms of condition, provenance, and rarity, and offer Steiff enthusiasts today the opportunity to add a remarkable piece of history to their collections. In all honesty, it doesn’t get much better than this!”