ry bears soon prompted Steiff, among others, to offer sweaters and other outfits for everyone’s teddy bear. The scarce early political pin bears made in 1904 sold for 5 cents each. Today they command more than $1,000. The spun-cotton wired Teddy B and Teddy G bears (shown below) may be the only set known to exist today.
|A rare pair of 1906-07 5-inch tall Teddy B and Teddy G spun-cotton and wired teddy bears are shown next to the color plate from the 1906 book “The Roosevelt Bears.”|
In 1905, Steiff starting selling teddy bears on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, and in 1907, the firm sold more than 1 million teddy bears. Steiff was one of only two early, original teddy bear makers that used artists’ designs. Richard Steiff’s designs were of the highest quality and set the standard for all other manufacturers. 10-inch bears were called doll size and were intended as replacements for the little dolls girls played with and as a solid alternative for boys.
An original 1906-07 Steiff as shown in excellent condition, brings up to $500 per inch! A 20-inch bear can be worth $10,000.
Note: Provenance — the known history of a bear, which may include original photos from the turn of the century with the bear and owner — can increase value by up to 50 percent. The documentation and story of an item is a valuable asset.
|This beautiful 20-inch white Steiff teddy is from 1911.|
Rare colors, special features, limited production and universal appeal all have an effect on value. A white, long-mohair bear in excellent condition brings high prices from collectors (right). A 20-inch white Steiff bear from 1910 would bring up to $15,000 from an interested collector. Tan or honey-colored mohair is the most common, while cinnamon, white and brown are considered more rare and desirable.
|This 18-inch German Bing Teddy bear is from 1912.|
Gerbrüder Bing of Nuremburg started making teddy bears and mechanical animals circa 1906-1907. They originally were designed by a famous animal painter, Kunz Weidlich, who emphasized the importance of looking lifelike. Bing employed nearly 10,000 toy makers in 1910, making it the largest in the world, by far. Of Jewish-German heritage, Bing eventually was forced into bankruptcy in 1932, but the company left a legacy of some of the finest bears and toys ever made. The quality and detail make Bings among the highest-selling items at auction. The 18-inch cinnamon teddy bear shown (above) is in excellent condition and commands $4,000 and up on the market today. Bing marked its bears in several ways. Those interested in collecting Bing should read the book “Bing Bears and Toys,” which highlights all the criteria for identifying a genuine Bing. Remember, the newest original Bing is from 1932 or earlier.
|This 20-inch mint version of the Uncle Remus teddy bear is extremely rare and valued at $5,000 or more.|
Joel Chandler Harris wrote the Uncle Remus stories, which some may remember from the Walt Disney movie version. The Uncle Remus teddy bear was made in America in 1906-1907. A special sewing procedure was used for the Uncle Remus bears’ eyes that made them hold their looks and not loosen or fall out.
Uncle Remus featured early dressed bears, who wore boots, as well. I have a photo from 1906 that shows a New York toy show selling rows and rows of teddy bears like this one, marked “UNCLE REMUS.” This 20-inch mint version is extremely rare, and valued at $5,000 or more.
|This original 20-inch American Ideal teddy bear was made in 1907.|
Ideal Novelty And Toy Company was one of the very early teddy bear and toy companies in America. Thanks again to research by my friend, Charles Moose, I can say without reserve that Ideal was not the maker of the first teddy bear, and it probably was not even the first American maker. Morris Michtom played a great role in the American toy industry and was a beloved benefactor to many less fortunate.
Playthings magazine reviewed Michtom’s life in 1938, when he died. In 1906, Michtom started making bears in a small shop, along with two partners. One year later, he moved to a larger factory 