Dear friends of historical toys,

Special thanks always go to our consignors, whose valuable collections and passionate commitment enable us to give these extraordinary pieces a worthy setting in our auction catalog. Their dedication and knowledge enrich our offer and make every auction a special event.

An equally heartfelt thank you goes to our bidders. You are the heart of our auctions and give them life and dynamism. Your participation and enthusiasm create a unique atmosphere that makes bidding an unforgettable experience.

Unfortunately, we are unable to highlight all the consignors in detail, but we would like to present some of the collections explicitly:

• Karin Schmelcher Collection Part II
  The first part of the collection already made collectors' hearts beat faster last year. Here now comes the second part of the high-quality and lovingly assembled collection of French dolls.
• Müller-Aue Collection
  The detailed collection of beautiful doll's houses and fantastic accessories brings to life children's dreams of times gone by.
• Pichler Toy Museum
  The museum's nostalgic collector's items make the hearts of young and old beat faster. From dolls and automatons to doll's houses and early, sometimes humorous fabric figures, the museum pieces are something very special.
• Third-party products from the Steiff factory sample warehouse
  A very special “journey” with the Steiff company and its archive modernization began last year. In this auction, special objects from external companies, which Steiff had acquired to observe the market, will now be auctioned.
• Schuco-Collection Fred Schumacher
  
• The carefully assembled collection of Schuco bears from the early 20th century rounds off our offer in a very special way.

There are two special features to mention, as some of the items are located in our branch in Switzerland. This results in two different situations. On the one hand, items are located in the Swiss customs warehouse/transit. For bidders outside Switzerland, shipping is mandatory for import and customs clearance. In addition, there are items already in Switzerland (not in transit) that can be collected or shipped. Customs clearance can also be carried out by you personally on collection. Please ask us in advance about the special features and costs! We will be happy to assist you!

Furthermore, for some objects a sales tax is due on the surcharge. In order to accommodate you, we waive our buyer's premium for these items. Dealers can claim this tax and for customers outside the EU this tax is not due.

We now invite you to discover the variety and beauty of the items on offer and hope you enjoy browsing and bidding. May this auction once again be a great experience for everyone involved.

Sincerely
Yours
entire team of the Ladenburg Toy Auction

Dear Collectors,

Thank you for your interest in my wife Nancy Schumacher's fine Teddy bear collection. This collection grew to over 400 bears over time. Nancy loved Steiff, Schuco, Cramer, JoPi, and other early 20th century European and American brand soft plush toys. These wonderful playthings graced our home and were a very important part of our lives for nearly six decades. Now it is time to pass on her passion to other enthusiasts so they can also experience the joy, excitement, and delight these bears brought us.

Nancy was born and raised in Glen Rock, New Jersey in the United States. She lived in Bergen County her entire life, within five miles of her birthplace. Nancy was a collector of many things, and would only buy top-quality items. Her home, which was filled with fine 18th and 19th century antiques, was a copy of a house located at the Sturbridge Village Museum in Massachusetts. This museum recreated a 1830s rural New England town.

Nancy's first Steiff was a hedgehog she found in an antique shop. She thought the face was so quaint and loving that she began to look for other Steiff items. Her next purchase was a seated fox. Then came Teddy bears. Size and condition were very important to her. We attended area doll shows to find bears. We travelled to Massachusetts to our very first live Teddy bear auction. There was one bear on offer at that event that particularly caught the eye of attendees. Many people touched its ear looking for a knopf im ohr. We decided that was the bear we would try to buy. When this lot went under the hammer, a woman that we did not know stood up, raised her hand until the bidding stopped, and won the bear. We met her later that evening and she became our friend. She would call me on the phone and say, “Fred, it’s Nancy’s birthday and I have a good bear for you.” Several years later, she told us that she would sell us a bear from her own collection. When it arrived, I saw how the bear’s ears were flat and its feet were twisted. I discovered that this was the bear she bought at the auction where we had met!

At that same Massachusetts auction, we bought a six-foot-tall Paddington Bear. When we went to take the bear home, he did not fit in our vehicle. So we drove back to New Jersey with his feet hanging outside the car. Soon after, we started looking for a Steiff rod bear. We were shocked at the prices, but a year later we found one in wonderful condition and added it to our growing collection.

Nancy not only collected Teddy bears of all sorts, but also exhibited them throughout our home. She would update her displays according to the calendar. She enjoyed finding festive and holiday-related clothing for her bears. These included baseball jerseys for our various sports teams, as well as colorful Fourth of July, St. Patrick's Day, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, and Christmas themed outfits, among others. Visitors would tour our house regularly to see how Nancy would display and dress her hug for each season.

Nancy would be delighted to know that her beloved bears are heading to new homes where they will be cherished as she cherished them.

With gratitude,

Fred Schumacher