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Teddy Bears - General

In 1902, United States President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in Mississippi. A black bear had been provided as a target for the president to shoot. The president considered it unsportsmanlike to shoot the animal and refused to do so. The event was widely publicized by a cartoon that appeared in the Washington Post the following day. The bear appeared in political cartoons and became known as "Teddy's bear." Soon, stuffed toy bears were modeled after the cartoon. Eventually, the toys were known simply as teddy bears.

Morris Michtom, founder of the Ideal Toy and Novelty company, asked permission from the president to sell toy bears made by his wife Rose as "teddy bears." The bears became widely popular and the Michtoms eventually founded Ideal to accommodate production. While the Michtoms are credited with inventing the teddy bear, historical documentation shows that the Steiff company of Germany actually produced toy teddy bears before the Michtoms.

Teddy bears were very popular prior to World War II. After the war, however, stuffed animals began to be produced using synthetic materials. Interest in teddy bears declined in the '60s, but vintage teddy bears became popular again in the '80s.


Quick Facts

  • The bear that was captured for President Roosevelt was an old, crippled black bear. The media transformed this bear into the cute little bear cub pictured in the papers
  • Jointed teddy bears enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in part due to the plush designs of specialty collections such as Boyd's Bears. These teddy bears were made in the style of the original teddy bears rather than modern plush toys
  • Plush toy manufacturer Gund produces a high-end teddy bear called Snuffles. This bear has a 10-carat diamond necklace with a white-gold chain and eyes made of Tahitian black pearls. Snuffles retails for $10,000

Recommended Items at Auction

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Mohair Antique Stuffed Teddy Bear Perfume
Apr 02, 5:00 PM CDT
Mohair Antique Stuffed Teddy Bear Perfume
by Asselmeier May Auctions
Est: $0- $0
$603 Bids
(15pc) Teddy Bear Figures, Snow Globe
Apr 01, 10:00 AM MST
(15pc) Teddy Bear Figures, Snow Globe
by EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Est: $0- $0
$101 Bid
Vintage ty Beanie Babies & Avon
Apr 01, 9:00 AM PDT
Vintage ty Beanie Babies & Avon
by California Auction Company LLC
Est: $0- $0
$101 Bid
Marx Bop-A-Bear toy in original box. Working
Apr 15, 10:00 AM EDT
Marx Bop-A-Bear toy in original box. Working
by Marion Antique Auctions
Est: $150- $200
$700 Bids
VINTAGE KOALA BEAR BY WAGNER KUNSTLERSCHUTZ  WEST GERMANY  ORIGINAL TAG / STICKER
Apr 12, 12:15 PM EDT
VINTAGE KOALA BEAR BY WAGNER KUNSTLERSCHUTZ  WEST GERMANY  ORIGINAL TAG / STICKER
by Figlio Designs LLC
Est: $90- $370
$150 Bids
VINTAGE BEAR BY WAGNER KUNSTLERSCHUTZ  WEST GERMANY  ORIGINAL TAG / STICKER
Apr 12, 12:15 PM EDT
VINTAGE BEAR BY WAGNER KUNSTLERSCHUTZ  WEST GERMANY  ORIGINAL TAG / STICKER
by Figlio Designs LLC
Est: $90- $370
$150 Bids
Teddybär / A teddy bear mascot, Hermann, 1970er Jahre
Apr 01, 9:00 AM CEST
Teddybär / A teddy bear mascot, Hermann, 1970er Jahre
by Auktionshaus Schwab
Est: €10- €20
€100 Bids
Boyds Bears Plush Toy
Apr 02, 1:00 PM EDT
Boyds Bears Plush Toy
by Designer Homes of Central Florida
Est: $20- $200
$200 Bids
"Benjamin" Exclusive - Large 45cm Plush Bear -"I Love You"
Apr 16, 7:00 PM BST
"Benjamin" Exclusive - Large 45cm Plush Bear -"I Love You"
by James Auctioneers London
Est: £90- £125
£900 Bids
BOYD BEARS & FRIENDS: Grace & Jonathan Born to shop Teddy bear with packages figurine
Apr 11, 7:00 PM EDT
BOYD BEARS & FRIENDS: Grace & Jonathan Born to shop Teddy bear with packages figurine
by Omni Auction Corp
Est: $30- $45
$100 Bids
BOYD BEARS & FRIENDS: Bailey Bear Teddy bear with suitcase figurine
Apr 11, 7:00 PM EDT
BOYD BEARS & FRIENDS: Bailey Bear Teddy bear with suitcase figurine
by Omni Auction Corp
Est: $30- $45
$100 Bids
BOYD BEARS & FRIENDS: Ted and Teddy figurine
Apr 11, 7:00 PM EDT
BOYD BEARS & FRIENDS: Ted and Teddy figurine
by Omni Auction Corp
Est: $30- $45
$100 Bids
Boyd's Mohair Bear
Apr 02, 1:00 PM EDT
Boyd's Mohair Bear
by Designer Homes of Central Florida
Est: $25- $250
$250 Bids
Articulated Teddy Bear
Apr 02, 1:00 PM EDT
Articulated Teddy Bear
by Designer Homes of Central Florida
Est: $35- $350
$350 Bids
German Mohair Teddy Bear
Apr 02, 1:00 PM EDT
German Mohair Teddy Bear
by Designer Homes of Central Florida
Est: $80- $800
$800 Bids
Dean's Teddy Bear
Apr 02, 1:00 PM EDT
Dean's Teddy Bear
by Designer Homes of Central Florida
Est: $80- $800
$800 Bids
An Avon Huggie Bear
Apr 01, 1:00 PM EDT
An Avon Huggie Bear
by Designer Homes of Central Florida
Est: $15- $150
$150 Bids
Vintage plush bear toy
Apr 01, 11:30 PM EDT
Vintage plush bear toy
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $25- $30
$100 Bids
Plush bear toy
Apr 01, 11:30 PM EDT
Plush bear toy
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $25- $30
$100 Bids
Juan Gonzalez baseball bean bag toy
Apr 01, 11:30 PM EDT
Juan Gonzalez baseball bean bag toy
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $25- $30
$100 Bids
Sammy Sosa baseball bean bag toy
Apr 01, 11:30 PM EDT
Sammy Sosa baseball bean bag toy
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $25- $30
$100 Bids
Tom Glavine baseball bean bag toy
Apr 01, 11:30 PM EDT
Tom Glavine baseball bean bag toy
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $25- $30
$100 Bids
David Justice baseball bean bag toy
Apr 01, 11:30 PM EDT
David Justice baseball bean bag toy
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $25- $30
$100 Bids
Scott Brosius baseball bean bag toy
Apr 01, 11:30 PM EDT
Scott Brosius baseball bean bag toy
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $25- $30
$100 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Teddy Bears - General


Designer Homes of Central Florida

Designer Homes of Central Florida

Omni Auction Corp

Omni Auction Corp

Gulfcoast Coin and Jewelry

Gulfcoast Coin and Jewelry