| When one thinks about stuffed animals and plush | | | | Bears' this name soon become synonymous with |
| toys today one almost always thinks of the iconic | | | | these stuffed animals. |
| teddy bear. However, the teddy bear is actually a | | | | In a matter of only a few years similar stuffed |
| fairly recent arrival. The first of them came in 1902 | | | | animals were being sold by other stores. These |
| when a store owner in Brooklyn, New York saw a | | | | stuffed animal toys were quickly marketed |
| political cartoon called 'Drawing the Line in Mississippi'. | | | | throughout the U.S. and also through Europe. These |
| This cartoon showed then president Theodore | | | | toy bears were also mentioned in a variety of books, |
| Roosevelt, who was also known as 'Teddy', refusing | | | | music, and other media of the day. The teddy bear |
| to shoot a cornered bear during an actual hunting trip. | | | | soon became another popular item for collectors |
| Roosevelt stated that it would not be very | | | | along with other toys, vintage dolls, and antique dolls. |
| sportsmanlike of him to do so. | | | | Some toy bears are quite valuable. For example, a |
| The bear was portrayed as a small, cute, and cuddly | | | | toy bear woven partly from gold and produced by |
| in a series of cartoon. It was these images that | | | | the original manufacturer to commemorate the toy's |
| inspired Morris Michtom, a store owner, to create and | | | | 125th anniversary is being sold for $84,000. Michtom's |
| start selling these in his store as a toy for small | | | | company that marketed the first teddy bear, the |
| children. His wife was already making such bears for | | | | Ideal Novelty and Toy Co., is also still in business |
| the store, so it was easy to begin marketing this toy | | | | today. |
| affectionately named after a President. | | | | The hobby of toy bear collecting should not cost you |
| Michtom sent a sample of the toy to President | | | | thousands of dollars. There are many ways to find |
| Roosevelt, requesting at the same time that the | | | | reasonably priced and sometimes great bargains for |
| President allow use of his nickname in the name of | | | | vintage bears at garage sales, flea markets, online |
| the toy. President Roosevelt okayed this, and this is | | | | auctions and special collector's venues. In addition to |
| where the toy teddy bear began to become a part | | | | its status as a collectible vintage bear, this toy that |
| of popular culture. From their earliest days these | | | | bears the name of a popular president, will make a |
| stuffed bears showed great popularity, and when Mr. | | | | warm and cuddly companion for a young child. |
| Michtom put a sign in his window advertising 'Teddy | | | | |