Antique teddy bears are a great collector's item. This toy has been a popular one for years, though it is relatively new so far as toys go. It is soft, cuddly, and gives comfort to those who love them so much. They are often given to children by policemen and by hospitals when a child has surgery, a long-term illness, or is brought to the emergency room with a traumatic injury.
This toy has a very exciting history. It is reported that President Teddy Roosevelt was responsible in part to its development. He had failed to get a specimen on a hunt, but refused to shoot a cub that was tethered to make it easy for him. The first one produced, by a couple of Brooklyn store owners, was a stuffed doll named "Teddy's Bear". It caught on and was an immediate success.
A German named Steiff developed a very different bear about the same time. It also became quite successful, though it was totally different in looks from the American one. They became popular collectors items as well. Varying versions of these toys were developed by a number of companies that wanted to get their part of this lucrative market.
Cheap stuffed toys from Asian companies took over the market, almost making the bear extinct. Its popularity waned a bit after WWII due to these cheaper toys. It seemed to be a thing of the past until late in 1969 when interest revived. In 1985 the first auction devoted to antique and vintage bears brought them to the forefront in attention.
Due to the lucrative financial possibilities of these older teddies, fake ones started being developed. They had many of the things that the older ones had, but not all. It is important for collectors today to check carefully in order to not buy a fake while thinking they have the real thing. There are some characteristics of these older models that set them apart, making it possible to know you are getting a true original.
The materials of both the body and stuffing vary by age. The earliest ones were made of wool mohair. Before WWII silk plush was used as material for the body, but cotton plush was not introduced until after the war. Synthetics were not introduced until the 1950's. In the beginning they were stuffed with excelsior, or wood wool. These were heavier than those stuffed with kapok stuffing. Those stuffed with foam are quite new, not antique or vintage at all.
Facial features are another trait that can indicate the age. Those from the very earliest years had eyes made of boot buttons. Glass eyes became common in the 1920's. Plastic eyes didn't come into use until the 1950's. The noses on the earliest models were made from woven silk. Later manufacturers had their unique nose styles, marking them as later productions.
Paws are another indicator of age. The earliest ones had pads made from felt or cotton. The cotton would have been worn out and probably replaced. Those models produced after the 1930's had velvet or fake leather pads on their paws. This marks them as not being one of the antique teddy bears.
This toy has a very exciting history. It is reported that President Teddy Roosevelt was responsible in part to its development. He had failed to get a specimen on a hunt, but refused to shoot a cub that was tethered to make it easy for him. The first one produced, by a couple of Brooklyn store owners, was a stuffed doll named "Teddy's Bear". It caught on and was an immediate success.
A German named Steiff developed a very different bear about the same time. It also became quite successful, though it was totally different in looks from the American one. They became popular collectors items as well. Varying versions of these toys were developed by a number of companies that wanted to get their part of this lucrative market.
Cheap stuffed toys from Asian companies took over the market, almost making the bear extinct. Its popularity waned a bit after WWII due to these cheaper toys. It seemed to be a thing of the past until late in 1969 when interest revived. In 1985 the first auction devoted to antique and vintage bears brought them to the forefront in attention.
Due to the lucrative financial possibilities of these older teddies, fake ones started being developed. They had many of the things that the older ones had, but not all. It is important for collectors today to check carefully in order to not buy a fake while thinking they have the real thing. There are some characteristics of these older models that set them apart, making it possible to know you are getting a true original.
The materials of both the body and stuffing vary by age. The earliest ones were made of wool mohair. Before WWII silk plush was used as material for the body, but cotton plush was not introduced until after the war. Synthetics were not introduced until the 1950's. In the beginning they were stuffed with excelsior, or wood wool. These were heavier than those stuffed with kapok stuffing. Those stuffed with foam are quite new, not antique or vintage at all.
Facial features are another trait that can indicate the age. Those from the very earliest years had eyes made of boot buttons. Glass eyes became common in the 1920's. Plastic eyes didn't come into use until the 1950's. The noses on the earliest models were made from woven silk. Later manufacturers had their unique nose styles, marking them as later productions.
Paws are another indicator of age. The earliest ones had pads made from felt or cotton. The cotton would have been worn out and probably replaced. Those models produced after the 1930's had velvet or fake leather pads on their paws. This marks them as not being one of the antique teddy bears.
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