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Teddy Bears & Soft Toy Animals.
At some time most of us will have owned a teddy bear or a soft toy animal. Teddy bears in particular are very popular gifts for babies and young children, as well as making great presents for Valentines and Christmas. Many people continue collecting teddy bears, especially limited edition teddy bears from well-known manufacturers like Steiff and Merrythought, throughout their adult lives. Viewers of the ever-popular Antiques Roadshow and other such programmes will be well aware of just how Steiff and Merrythought teddy bears and other soft toy animals appreciate in value.
Other pages in this site will go into more detail about the different products and manufacturing methods of the 2 giants in the teddy bear industry, Steiff and Merrythought, for now it is suffice to say that both these long-established and respected company's produce some of the most delightful, hand-made teddy bears, rabbits, elephants, meerkats, dogs, tigers, lions and other soft toy animals that you are ever likely to come across.
If you have any story's or pictures that you would like to share or questions that you would like to ask about these fabulous teddies or their friends drop us a line on the contact form and we will see what we can do.
Other pages in this site will go into more detail about the different products and manufacturing methods of the 2 giants in the teddy bear industry, Steiff and Merrythought, for now it is suffice to say that both these long-established and respected company's produce some of the most delightful, hand-made teddy bears, rabbits, elephants, meerkats, dogs, tigers, lions and other soft toy animals that you are ever likely to come across.
If you have any story's or pictures that you would like to share or questions that you would like to ask about these fabulous teddies or their friends drop us a line on the contact form and we will see what we can do.
Teddy Bear Tales.
How did teddy bears get their name?
The name Teddy Bear comes from former US President Theodore Roosevelt, whose nickname was "Teddy". The nickname originated from an incident on a bear-hunting trip in Mississippi in November 1902, to which Roosevelt was invited by the Mississippi Governor. There were several other hunters competing, and most of them had already killed an animal. A suite of Roosevelt's attendants cornered an American Black Bear after a long exhausting chase with hounds. They called Roosevelt to the site and suggested that he should shoot it. He refused to shoot the bear, and news of this was picked up and reported by the Washington Post, together with a cartoon of the incident.
Morris Michtom saw the drawing of Roosevelt and the bear cub and was inspired to create a new toy. He created a little stuffed bear cub and put it in his shop window with a sign that read "Teddy's bear," after sending a bear to Roosevelt and receiving permission to use his name. The toys were an immediate success. At the same time in Germany, Steiff, unaware of Michtom's bear, produced a stuffed bear from Richard Steiff's designs. Allegedly, after exhibiting the toy at the Leipzig Toy Fair in March 1903 3000 were ordered to be transported to the United States. The 3000 bears are not recorded to have arrived in America and some believe that the bears were shipwrecked.
Although Steiff and Michtom were both making teddy bears at around the same time, neither would have known of the other's creation due to poor transatlantic communication. As to who created the very first bear, there is disagreement. Some believe it was Steiff who made the first bear; others claim that the first teddy bear was made by Michtom.
By 1906 manufacturers other than Michtom and Steiff had joined in and the craze for "Roosevelt Bears" was such that ladies carried them everywhere, children were photographed with them, and Roosevelt used one as a mascot in his bid for re-election.
The name Teddy Bear comes from former US President Theodore Roosevelt, whose nickname was "Teddy". The nickname originated from an incident on a bear-hunting trip in Mississippi in November 1902, to which Roosevelt was invited by the Mississippi Governor. There were several other hunters competing, and most of them had already killed an animal. A suite of Roosevelt's attendants cornered an American Black Bear after a long exhausting chase with hounds. They called Roosevelt to the site and suggested that he should shoot it. He refused to shoot the bear, and news of this was picked up and reported by the Washington Post, together with a cartoon of the incident.
Morris Michtom saw the drawing of Roosevelt and the bear cub and was inspired to create a new toy. He created a little stuffed bear cub and put it in his shop window with a sign that read "Teddy's bear," after sending a bear to Roosevelt and receiving permission to use his name. The toys were an immediate success. At the same time in Germany, Steiff, unaware of Michtom's bear, produced a stuffed bear from Richard Steiff's designs. Allegedly, after exhibiting the toy at the Leipzig Toy Fair in March 1903 3000 were ordered to be transported to the United States. The 3000 bears are not recorded to have arrived in America and some believe that the bears were shipwrecked.
Although Steiff and Michtom were both making teddy bears at around the same time, neither would have known of the other's creation due to poor transatlantic communication. As to who created the very first bear, there is disagreement. Some believe it was Steiff who made the first bear; others claim that the first teddy bear was made by Michtom.
By 1906 manufacturers other than Michtom and Steiff had joined in and the craze for "Roosevelt Bears" was such that ladies carried them everywhere, children were photographed with them, and Roosevelt used one as a mascot in his bid for re-election.
£1 million teddy bear sale.
A collection of Steiff stuffed toys belonging to a disgraced hedge fund manager went under the hammer at Christie’s in London.
The collection of teddy bears was owned the financier Paul Greenwood, who pleaded guilty to fraud charges in 2009. The collection was expected to fetch at least £1.2 million.
Greenwood’s lawyer said the sale of more than 1,300 toys, of which 10 per cent are highly prized Steiff teddy bears, made by German company which has made stuffed toys since the late nineteenth century, “had been approved by the receiver”.
Greenwood was charged in February 2009, along with his colleague Steven Walsh, with engaging in “egregious” investment fraud and using funds invested by clients as a “personal piggy bank”.
To see the video accompanying this click here.
The collection of teddy bears was owned the financier Paul Greenwood, who pleaded guilty to fraud charges in 2009. The collection was expected to fetch at least £1.2 million.
Greenwood’s lawyer said the sale of more than 1,300 toys, of which 10 per cent are highly prized Steiff teddy bears, made by German company which has made stuffed toys since the late nineteenth century, “had been approved by the receiver”.
Greenwood was charged in February 2009, along with his colleague Steven Walsh, with engaging in “egregious” investment fraud and using funds invested by clients as a “personal piggy bank”.
To see the video accompanying this click here.
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