Article Directory

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 had appeared in a past series of cartoons as cute, cuddly and small. The store owner, Morris Michtom, used this image to inspire the creation of stuffed bears marketed as toys for children. The store was already equipped to produce the toys as his wife had been produced stuffed bears for some time so Morris was able to begin producing stuffed bears in the image of the President immediately.

In order to request permission to use his nickname as the toy's name, Michtom sent a sample bear to President Roosevelt. The toy bear began his trip into public awareness once President Roosevelt had agreed. From the star these stuffed bears were proven to be popular. A 'Teddy Bear' sign was hung in Mr. Michtom's store window and the term 'Teddy Bear' became the ever familiar name of these stuffed 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 toy bears are quite valuable. For example, a toy bear woven partly from gold and produced by the original manufacturer to commemorate the toy's 125th anniversary is being sold for $84,000. Michtom's company that marketed the first teddy bear, the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co., is also still in business today.

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.