Antique teddy bears are a great collector's item. This toy has been a popular one for years, though it is relatively new so far as toys go. It is soft, cuddly, and gives comfort to those who love them so much. They are often given to children by policemen and by hospitals when a child has surgery, a long-term illness, or is brought to the emergency room with a traumatic injury.
The history of this special toy is quite interesting. Supposedly, Teddy Roosevelt was upset at not getting a kill on a bear hunt. When he refused to shoot a cub, a couple of Brooklyn toy store owners developed a stuffed doll and called it Teddy's Bear. It became an immediate success and remained so for years.
A German named Steiff developed a very different bear about the same time. It also became quite successful, though it was totally different in looks from the American one. They became popular collectors items as well. Varying versions of these toys were developed by a number of companies that wanted to get their part of this lucrative market.
Asian companies began to develop cheap versions of stuffed animals and almost made the bear become extinct. After WWII, the popularity of these toys gave way to the popularity of the cheaper versions. It gradually became almost extinct, but was revived in 1969 when a book about them revived their popularity. The first auction of these antique and vintage bears was held in 1985 and cause a revival in their popularity.
Due to the lucrative financial possibilities of these older teddies, fake ones started being developed. They had many of the things that the older ones had, but not all. It is important for collectors today to check carefully in order to not buy a fake while thinking they have the real thing. There are some characteristics of these older models that set them apart, making it possible to know you are getting a true original.
The body and stuffing varied in the fakes in comparison to the original ones. Earlier versions were made of wool mohair. Just before WWII silk plush came into used. Cotton plush did not come into use until later, after the war. Synthetics were not introduced until much later, during the 1950's. Stuffing in earlier models was excelsior, a type of wood wool. Later, kapok was used. Those stuffed with kapok were still older, and were much lighter than those stuffed with excelsior. Foam was not used until much later.
Facial features are another trait that can indicate the age. Those from the very earliest years had eyes made of boot buttons. Glass eyes became common in the 1920's. Plastic eyes didn't come into use until the 1950's. The noses on the earliest models were made from woven silk. Later manufacturers had their unique nose styles, marking them as later productions.
Another way to tell the age is to look at the paws. Earlier ones had pads made from cotton or felt, though the cotton would probably have been replaced by now. Velvet and fake leather came into use after the 1930's. This indicates them as being later versions and not antique teddy bears.
The history of this special toy is quite interesting. Supposedly, Teddy Roosevelt was upset at not getting a kill on a bear hunt. When he refused to shoot a cub, a couple of Brooklyn toy store owners developed a stuffed doll and called it Teddy's Bear. It became an immediate success and remained so for years.
A German named Steiff developed a very different bear about the same time. It also became quite successful, though it was totally different in looks from the American one. They became popular collectors items as well. Varying versions of these toys were developed by a number of companies that wanted to get their part of this lucrative market.
Asian companies began to develop cheap versions of stuffed animals and almost made the bear become extinct. After WWII, the popularity of these toys gave way to the popularity of the cheaper versions. It gradually became almost extinct, but was revived in 1969 when a book about them revived their popularity. The first auction of these antique and vintage bears was held in 1985 and cause a revival in their popularity.
Due to the lucrative financial possibilities of these older teddies, fake ones started being developed. They had many of the things that the older ones had, but not all. It is important for collectors today to check carefully in order to not buy a fake while thinking they have the real thing. There are some characteristics of these older models that set them apart, making it possible to know you are getting a true original.
The body and stuffing varied in the fakes in comparison to the original ones. Earlier versions were made of wool mohair. Just before WWII silk plush came into used. Cotton plush did not come into use until later, after the war. Synthetics were not introduced until much later, during the 1950's. Stuffing in earlier models was excelsior, a type of wood wool. Later, kapok was used. Those stuffed with kapok were still older, and were much lighter than those stuffed with excelsior. Foam was not used until much later.
Facial features are another trait that can indicate the age. Those from the very earliest years had eyes made of boot buttons. Glass eyes became common in the 1920's. Plastic eyes didn't come into use until the 1950's. The noses on the earliest models were made from woven silk. Later manufacturers had their unique nose styles, marking them as later productions.
Another way to tell the age is to look at the paws. Earlier ones had pads made from cotton or felt, though the cotton would probably have been replaced by now. Velvet and fake leather came into use after the 1930's. This indicates them as being later versions and not antique teddy bears.
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