Steiff Sensational Teddy Bears, Animals & Dolls by Christel Pistorius, Rolf Pistorius (1991, Hardcover)

As a reference for Steiff lovers, I consider this to be a must-have. The first section of the book provides a brief company history and helpful guides to the Steiff IDs - buttons and tags and the years in which they were used. The author also gives extensive information about materials and techniques used by Steiff in the manufacture of their famous toys, as well as tips for spotting forgeries.

The rest of the book is divided into categories, from teddy bears to farm animals, and is full of color photos - many of them charming groupings of animals in outdoor settings. These animals range in age from very early (and often unattainable for the average collector) to very recent. They also give a wonderful overview of the evolution of popular Steiff creations such as Molly the dog or Jocko the chimp.

The book is indexed for easy searching, and is printed on nice, heavy paper - not too glossy. The text is very readable and the information about Steiff animals is extensive, but the real stars here are the photos. They're as informative to the collector as they are enjoyable to look at.