Collecting Teddy Bears

Mr. Teddy Bear Black, a Rare Black Steiff Bear, circa 1912 Giclee Print
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One of the most notable births of the 20th century was that of the teddy bear, the delight and comfort of children and adults for over one hundred years.

Margarete Steiff who started the Steiff company in 1880 and was aunt of Richard Steiff

There are two claims for the invention of the teddy bear. One belongs to German toy designer, Richard Stieff, who is said to have seen performing bears in a circus when he visited America. This gave him the idea for a new toy: a bear that had jointed arms and legs and could turn its head, just like a doll. In 1903, he exhibited his new toy, called Friend Petz, at the Leipzig Spring Toy Fair.

Meanwhile, in the USA in 1902, President Theadore (Teddy) Roosevelt went on a hunting trip which was unsuccessful.

The story goes that his aides procured a bear cub for him to shoot to compensate for his lack of success but he refused to shoot it. The following day a cartoon illustrating the incident appeared in newspapers all over the United States. It was seen by Morris Michtom, the owner of a Brooklyn candy store, and it sparked off the idea for a new toy, Teddy's bear. He worked out the design for a jointed bear and his wife made them. Sold in their candy store, Teddy's bear was an immediate hit. It was such a success that the store was closed and Michtom started the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company, one the largest toy companies in the world today.

From these small beginnings teddy bears have become one of the most popular toys ever with toy manufacturers in Britain, Europe and America making their own versions of the teddy.

Did You Know?

A teddy bear collector is called an Arctophile

Close Up of a Steiff "Dual" Mohair Teddy Bear, C, 1926 Giclee Print
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Actor, Peter Bull, was one of the most prominent teddy bear collectors and probably one of the people who helped to make collecting bears as popular as it is today. He toured the USA with his collection and the teddy bear that appeared in Brideshead Revisited belonged to him.

Sotheby's held the first teddy bear auction in 1982 and the world record price for a bear is £110,000 at Christies South Kensington paid for a bear belonging to Colonel Bob Henderson and bought by a Japanese collector who is said to have booked the bear his own first class seat to fly back to Japan.

Cat's Pet Art Print
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In the collecting of teddy bears authenticity, provenance and condition is of paramount importance. First of all you need to identify your bear. Take a good look at him and carefully examine all his parts. Feel him too so that you can identify the stuffing. The first bears were stuffed with wood shavings (wood wool), then in the 1930s kapok and wool waste began to be used although wood wool was often still used for the head. Because of this, a bear with a softer body is unlikely to be pre-1930.

A label on the bear is a good clue to its maker but not an infallible one! The most valuable and desirable bears are those made by the German company Stieff. They have a small metal button in the left ear and the design on the button can identify the period of manufacture. The one above, with an elephant on it, is the original button from 1903. Other desirable manufacturers include Ideal, Bruin, Chad Valley, Farnell, Merrythought and Chiltern.

The fur on early bears was usually mohair fabric, later, other fabrics were used: in the 1930s, fabrics like silk or cotton plush and, after the 1950s, synthetic materials. The paws on early good-quality bears were made from felt, or on cheaper ones, brushed cotton. From the 1930s some bears had paws made from a leather look cotton fabric, velveteen or just from using a different coloured plush.

A Collection of Steiff Teddy Bears Giclee Print
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Early bears had boot button eyes, from the 1920s these were changed to glass ones. Some post Second World War bears were given plastic eyes. Originally teddies had quite long snouts and the nose was usually stitched on with silk thread. The snout because progressively shorter until it became the relatively flat one we see today on modern bears. The original bears also had a pronounced hump, mimicking a real bear's hump. This has also gradually disappeared.

With the increase in the value of teddy bears, the production of fakes has become a lucrative business. How can you be sure that the bear you buy is genuine?

Do not buy a collectable teddy bear without seeing a lot of bears first. Go to specialist fairs and auctions and to toy and teddy bear museums.

Make sure you are familiar with the overall look of bears of different periods and types then, when buying a teddy, check that the distinctive features like the length of snout, type of eyes, hump (or lack of hump) are all consistent with its supposed age and manufacturer.

Also check that the fabric is right for the period and that any wear is in the logical places. One would expect wear to occur where the bear is held or cuddled so any on the top of the head or the front of the face, for example, would be quite suspicious.
Another tip is to smell the bear. Does it smell as fresh as if it was made yesterday? If it does, perhaps it was! An old bear usually has a fusty dusty smell of age and without that, perhaps you should think twice before spending too much money.

Top Tip

Use your nose to sniff out a fake.

Does the teddy smell as fresh as if it was made yesterday? If it does, perhaps it was! An old bear usually has the fusty, dusty smell of age and without that, perhaps you should think twice before spending too much money.

A Steiff White Plush Covered Teddy Bear, with a Rare Black Steiff Teddy Bear Giclee Print
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If your bear is a much loved reminder of your childhood, you will still want to care for it and make sure its condition doesn't deteriorate.

Insects and Other Bugs
When you buy a collectable teddy bear, you need to take precautions in case it is infested with bugs like the larvae of the furniture beetle, moth larvae or even fleas.

Put your bear inside a plastic bag with no holes in it and then seal it and put it in the freezer for a few days. If it's a large bear, leave it for at least a week. Alternatively, you can put moth or other insect repellent in the bag and leave it sealed for around 2 weeks.

When you take the bear out of the sealed bag and when it's completely dry if it's been in freeze, gently brush the fur.

Inspect your bears regularly for signs of infestation. You might find small holes in the pads of feet or paws or the papery casings of larvae cases.

Regular Cleaning
You can use a vacuum cleaner on your bear but do it with care. Cover the nozzle with a piece of fine net curtain or part of a pair of tights (panty hose) so that you don't accidentally suck off an eye, label or stitching.

If your bear needs a bit more than a vacuum clean, you can sponge it but very carefully.

Never immerse an old bear in water!

Using warm water and a small amount of very gentle soap liquid, well mixed, with a soft cloth or very soft brush (a baby's hairbrush, for example), carefully wash the fur but without wetting the backing fabric. Then use clean, warm water to remove the soapy water. You can use a hairdryer on warm but not hot to gently dry the bear. Otherwise, gently towel dry. Whichever way you dry your bear, put it somewhere warm like an airing cupboard for a couple of days to remove all traces of damp.

If your bear is more modern, it should come with washing instructions and these should be followed.

Hazards at Home
Smoking will make your bear smell and may discolour it.
* Dogs often love soft toys but will damage them so make sure your bears never end up in your dog's mouth. If you have cats, make sure they can't use your bear to sharpen their claws. Both cats and dogs can have fleas which can infest your bear.
* Keep your bear out of direct sunlight which will fade its fur.

Repairs
Valuable bears should always be repaired by an experienced restorer. Amateur repairs can affect their value and, in some cases, make it unsaleable.

If you decide to repair a bear yourself, always do it in exactly the same way as the original. Don't experiment with alternative stitching or different eyes.

If your bear is in a poor condition with open seams but you can't or don't want to get it repaired, stop the damage getting worse by protecting it. Use baby clothes like mittens, booties or a baby's bodysuit (babygrow).