Teddy Bear History For Kids And Collectors

The teddy bear, that iconic symbol of childhood, owes its existence to an act of kindness on the part of Theodore Roosevelt, the twenty-sixth president of the United States. On a 1902 hunting trip in Mississippi, Roosevelt's hosts trapped a bear and offered Roosevelt the chance to shoot it. Roosevelt refused, saying that it would be unsportsmanlike to shoot a helpless animal. This incident became the basis for a political cartoon called "Drawing the Line in Mississippi". Morris Michtom, a store owner in Brooklyn, saw the cartoon and was inspired to create a stuffed toy bear, which he named "Teddy" after Roosevelt.

The bear was portrayed as a small, cute, and cuddly in a series of cartoon. It was these images that inspired Morris Michtom, a store owner, to create and start selling these in his store as a toy for small children. His wife was already making such bears for the store, so it was easy to begin marketing this toy affectionately named after a President.

Michtom gave President Roosevelt a model of a bear, and requested his authorization for using the President's nickname for half of the toy's name. President Roosevelt gave his consent and the toy bear came out on the public market. These cuddly bears were very popular from the start. Mr. Michtom put up a 'Teddy's Bear' sign in the window at his store, and the name 'Teddy Bear' quickly became closely associated with these cuddly animals.

In a matter of only a few years similar stuffed animals were being sold by other stores. These stuffed animal toys were quickly marketed throughout the U.S. and also through Europe. These toy bears were also mentioned in a variety of books, music, and other media of the day. The teddy bear soon became another popular item for collectors along with other toys, vintage dolls, and antique dolls.

Some collectible bears have become increasingly valuable. To mark the 125th anniversary of the teddy bear, the original manufacturer, the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co., created a bear made of woven gold. These incredible bears are now selling for $48,000. The Ideal Novelty and Toy Co. Is making bears.

The hobby of toy bear collecting should not cost you thousands of dollars. There are many ways to find reasonably priced and sometimes great bargains for vintage bears at garage sales, flea markets, online auctions and special collector's venues. In addition to its status as a collectible vintage bear, this toy that bears the name of a popular president, will make a warm and cuddly companion for a young child.

Discover the amazing world of teddy bears at The Vintage Doll Shoppe. We're the net's one-stop for vintage doll collecting. Browse a huge selection of vintage dolls for sale including Bisque, composition, celluloid, china, tin/metal, wooden, and other and antique dolls. We share our latest interesting finds in The Doll House, our blog devoted to vintage dolls. While visiting, enjoy our collection of videos showcasing antique doll collections, restoration tip videos, vintage commercials, and much more!

- Daniel Wright