How To Know When Teddy Is Faking It!

Collecting old teddies has become a very popular hobby or investment. As prices for the rarer bears has increased, so then has the number of fake bears on the market. These teddies are made to look “old”, with the characteristics of body shape and style of antique bears, with added dirt, “worn” areas or fabricated “provenance”.

These bears are then deceptively promoted as being “old”, and therefore far more valuable. Teddy might be pretending to be old before his time! Continue Reading…

It’s not hard when you collect teddies to” buy what you like”. With so many endearing faces peering at you from sellers, it can be harder to NOT buy what you like!

When buying vintage or antique teddies it is important to learn the identifying features that help to date them. Whether for the fun of knowing when teddy was made or for making informed investment decisions, learning about teddy adds to the experience of collecting.

There are several features that help to determine the age of a vintage teddy: Continue Reading…

Who Invented The Teddy Bear?

Collecting teddy bears is a world-wide phenomenon! For more than a hundred years teddies have been loved and confided in as childhood companions, and since the 1970s have risen in popularity as a collectable for adults. Whether because they bring back those warm childhood memories of a best friend, or through their endearing faces, teddies just seem to draw themselves to us!

Unlike many other collectables, teddy bears have character and appeal that endears them in a way far beyond merely being investments. Continue Reading…

When Margarete Steiff first made her jointed bear toy she could not have envisaged the universal appeal of what was later to be known as the Teddy Bear.

Someone to hear your thoughts, and hold your love, the teddy bear’s value has gone beyond that of other toys. Early Steiff bears, as do those of all of the major makers, including Merrythought, Schuco, Joy Toys and Chad Valley, now command high prices. From the early 70’s when these bears could still be bought for small sums, examples have now sold for six figures! Continue Reading…