VINTAGE STEIFF BEAR - OPHELIA Start Price USD 450.00 Current Price USD 450.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, August 19, 2008 End Time Friday, August 22, 2008 Location Cape Town, western Province See more about 'VINTAGE STEIFF BEAR - OPHELIA' Description deecide store I cannot use Paypal as I reside in South Africa. Paypal who adheres to South African Monetary regulations, will not accept deposits from buyers into my account. The only payment method accepted will be by direct bank transfer into my UK account, money order or cashier's cheque. **PLEASE, PLEASE do not bid on this auction if this does not suit you. I know it is difficult to transfer money into a bank account when you do not know the person, so if necessary I can give you references of people who have done so**I will split the cost of the transfer with you if you live outside the UK Margarete Steiff who was almost crippled by polio as a young girl, and confined for her lifetime to a wheelchair, created the first stuffed animals in the world, in the little town of Glengen in Germany. Her greatest desire was to make the children around her happy, and one day she created a little elephant made of felt. This little elephant turned out so well that she made more and more little toys, and then realised that if she could make the children in her enviroment happy, why not try to spread joy and pleasure to the children of the world. Thus the first little Steiff Factory was born, though it was no more than a friendly little "sewing circle". This little factory remained small and modest for many years, but Margarete Steiff had talents other than creating. She had the gift of teaching and conveying her ideas to her co-workers, to make and create only the best toys for children. Her brother Fritz joined her and he too had ideas, and so the reality of a stuffed animal kingdom came to be. Margarete's nephew Richard joined the Steiff factory in 1897. Spending hours at the zoo was his passion particularly watching the bears. In 1902 he conceived the idea of making a toy bear with movable joints and head, but "Aunt Margarete" was not very happy when she saw the first bear because it was so much larger then any toy that had so far been made. Also Richard used mohair instead of felt which was very hard to get at that time. I could go on and on about this fascinating family but there's too much to tell. The big break for the Steiff factory came when President Theodore Roosevelt's daughter Alice was getting married. His caterer ws having sleepless nights because he could not find suitable decorations for the tables.  Standing outside a little shop window in New York, he saw it. There it was! the little bear from the town of Glengen in Germany. He had found his table decorations. Some he dressed as huntsmen, some as fishermen and when the wedding guests saw the decorations they were full of praise for the originality of the caterer. One of the President's closest friends and hunting companions is reported to have said "Say Teddy, you are an old bear hunter, could you tell me what the species of these bears are?" "This time you really got me" replied the President. His friend said " Well, since you don't know, I'll help you out. It's a new species called Teddy Bears" and that is how the Steiff bear got it's name, and overnight the Teddy Bear became famous and young and old clamoured to buy a "Roosevelt Teddy" This is the beautiful Ophelia, in her white lace collar and pink ribbon, made by Steiff at the suggestion of Michele Durkson Clise, whose books inspired collectors, by sharing her "circle of bears". Ophelia was made between 1984 and 1989 for the American market only. She is 16 1/2" tall, white mohair, hang tag, gold button in ear and box. In absolute mint condition, hardly ever leaving her box and she now needs some serious loving. No certificate. Please email me with any questions and sorry, but no returns. Enjoy the auction with no reserve and thanks for looking. Please note that all my sales are sent DHL GLOBAL Mail,as I find this makes me feel better, and so is ultimately better for you too. Prices for shipping at the moment are as follows... Sorry that they seem high, but I do not make anything on shipping,the past few months I have practically paid for the shipping myself. UNITED KINGDOM: $50 PER KG USA AND CANADA: $51.40 PER KG EUROPE:              $52 PER KG REST OF THE WORLD: $56.46 PER KG Please take the shipping into account when you bid..thanks  Place a Bid!