It was a cartoon of Theodore Roosevelt and a bear that inspired the creation of the first teddy bears in America. These were made by the wife of shopkeeper, Morris Michtom and displayed in the window of their shop together with the cartoon. These teddies with their jointed bodies and beady eyes are still highly desired today by collectors. Collectible teddy bears may be both antique and modern. The price tags vary considerably with the oldest ones fetching very high prices.
Around the same time as this was happening in the United States, a German, Richard Steiff, made a bear for his aunt who was the owner of a large toy company. The company began manufacturing this item and they are still doing so today in the same factory where they first started. Their products, whether they were made years ago or today, are highly desirable to collectors. The ones made between 1903 and 1905 with their long snouts, big feet, long arms and curved paws, fetch the highest prices.
Many manufacturers began making bear toys before World War 11 but after the war, plush toys made in Asian factories began flooding the market. Fortunately, this did not kill the desire to collect vintage items. This has continued over the years and many people enjoy collecting. Teddies are always well loved but not all of them are collectible. If you want to become a collector, it is important to know what to look for to spot a genuine article from a fake. One way to do this is to become as familiar with the subject as possible by reading books, researching online and going to museums and auctions.
If you are interested in starting a collection, it is vital to know something about the history of teddies. There are many fakes which are made to look old and worn. You need to be able to distinguish the difference between what is fake and a genuine antique. For example, it is important to know what materials were used during different periods to help determine age. The earliest teddies were stuffed with wood wool and covered with mohair. Their pads were made of cotton or felt. Later velvet and fake leather were used for the pads and they were stuffed with foam.
One of the easiest ways to find out who made your bear is to look at the label. Even if only a fragment remains, it can still be compared with those shown in books. The label can even give an idea of the date when it was made as manufacturers changed labels quite often throughout their history. Steiff bears have a small metal button sewn into the left ear for identification.
The eyes of the first teddies were made from black boot buttons which gave them a beady look. These buttons were replaced by glass eyes at a later stage which gave them a more friendly appearance. Eyes today are often made from plastic.
The snouts of the earliest teddies were much longer than they are today. Their backs were humped and the arms were long. They had five joints attaching the various limbs and the head to the body. Later, a washable bear without joints came onto the market which looked more like the teddies we know today.
Very rare collectible teddy bears may be too expensive for many collectors. However, there are many others available which are desirable to modern collectors. This includes those manufactured today by companies like Steiff, Merryweather and Farnell.
Around the same time as this was happening in the United States, a German, Richard Steiff, made a bear for his aunt who was the owner of a large toy company. The company began manufacturing this item and they are still doing so today in the same factory where they first started. Their products, whether they were made years ago or today, are highly desirable to collectors. The ones made between 1903 and 1905 with their long snouts, big feet, long arms and curved paws, fetch the highest prices.
Many manufacturers began making bear toys before World War 11 but after the war, plush toys made in Asian factories began flooding the market. Fortunately, this did not kill the desire to collect vintage items. This has continued over the years and many people enjoy collecting. Teddies are always well loved but not all of them are collectible. If you want to become a collector, it is important to know what to look for to spot a genuine article from a fake. One way to do this is to become as familiar with the subject as possible by reading books, researching online and going to museums and auctions.
If you are interested in starting a collection, it is vital to know something about the history of teddies. There are many fakes which are made to look old and worn. You need to be able to distinguish the difference between what is fake and a genuine antique. For example, it is important to know what materials were used during different periods to help determine age. The earliest teddies were stuffed with wood wool and covered with mohair. Their pads were made of cotton or felt. Later velvet and fake leather were used for the pads and they were stuffed with foam.
One of the easiest ways to find out who made your bear is to look at the label. Even if only a fragment remains, it can still be compared with those shown in books. The label can even give an idea of the date when it was made as manufacturers changed labels quite often throughout their history. Steiff bears have a small metal button sewn into the left ear for identification.
The eyes of the first teddies were made from black boot buttons which gave them a beady look. These buttons were replaced by glass eyes at a later stage which gave them a more friendly appearance. Eyes today are often made from plastic.
The snouts of the earliest teddies were much longer than they are today. Their backs were humped and the arms were long. They had five joints attaching the various limbs and the head to the body. Later, a washable bear without joints came onto the market which looked more like the teddies we know today.
Very rare collectible teddy bears may be too expensive for many collectors. However, there are many others available which are desirable to modern collectors. This includes those manufactured today by companies like Steiff, Merryweather and Farnell.
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