Steiff is a German-based plush toy company, founded in 1880, with headquarters in Giengen, Germany.

[3] In 1897, Margarete's nephew, Richard Steiff, joined the company and gave it an enormous boost by creating stuffed animals from drawings made at the zoo.

[6] In 1912, in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster that left Britain in mourning, a British toy retailer ordered black Steiff teddy bears to bring comfort to the public.

[10] In 1909, when Margarete died of pneumonia, Richard continued his aunt's legacy and further expanded the toy and plush line.

[16] Vintage Steiff teddy bears are prized by collectors, and depending on the type can bring significant sums at auction.

[17] In 2000, a Steiff Louis Vuitton Teddy Bear, with eyes made of sapphire and diamonds, and with gold parts, sold at an auction in Monaco for $2.1 million.

[19] In December 2002, "Edwin", a 5+1⁄2-inch Steiff teddy bear that accompanied a British soldier, Percy Kynnersley-Baddlely, killed in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, was sold for £4,230.

[24] It takes eight to 12 months of training for a seamstress to develop the skills to make Steiff bears that meet the company's strict quality standards.

[24][25] The iconic "button in ear" tag was devised in 1904 by Margarete's nephew Franz to keep counterfeits from being passed off as authentic Steiff toys.