Teddy Bears

[luckystrike]

I've got a teddy bear and would like to trace it's history - eg, factory it was made in, dates, etc.  I know nothing about it, and would have to rely on pictures.

 

Can anyone recommend a good website?

 

Thanks.

[2nd row]

 you don't mention if you have any plans to sell your teddy bear ? if yes, then you are doing the correct thing by wanting to know more.. altho' its history, could be difficult, if it has been passed on, and then on again, and now belongs to you, should be easy...... do not part with anything, which you may even suspect is old, and worth ' something,  ',,, no dealers, definately not your local bring/buy/sell shop........ that said, has your teddy got a little button sewn into its left ear ? any labels, tags, makers names anywhere upon it ?  even if rare, and worth large sums, sometimes the condition will not count........ to find out more, you can get hold of MILLERS, ( toys, collectables, antiques, many to select from ) your local library is your best bet, can be expensive to buy, you could visit a well known web site auction ,,,, and once on/in  just print out ' teddy bears ', photos, etc etc, even  get an idea of the value too, is there one there similar to yours ? hope this has been some help and advice, do NOTpart with it until you find out , if it belonged to your great, great grand mother, you may want to pass it onto one of your children, but whatever, good luck, happy hunting.

[luckystrike]

Thanks 2nd row!

[Octavius]

Ideally a name/label would help to trace it's origins.. but you could start here...

 

http://www.planet-teddybear.com/collmonth/index.shtml

 

They have a collectors corner with lots of pictures.  Following this, try doing a search around the subject on google, e.g. put 'teddy bear collector' or 'how old is my teddy bear' in the search and you will find a whole world of teddy bear sites... and some will be having picnics...

 

 

[Peter Pedant]

There are quite a few teddy bear collectors around and talk to them (and not about money)

In the shop I work in, a child came in with a teddy hanging from his mouth, and the assistant (who is a teddy bear freak), said That is a Dien, 1905, hump back, original squeak, saw dust filling (rather spittle flavoured by now) worth about a thousand.

The child had been given his teddy by his grandparents who we thought must have been given it by their grandparents.

Wow

but of course not every spit covered teddy is worth anything

[ursula62]

Try going to some of the fairs. They often have people from Christies or other auctioneers who can give you an idea of the history/origin and/or value of your teddy for free or for a donation to a charity.

 

http://www.hugglets.co.uk/