History of the Teddy Bear

Berryman's bear had an expressionthat people love

The Birth of the Teddy Bear

Clifford Berryman's cartoon in Washington Post on Nov 16, 1902 depicted an incident, which involved President Theodore Roosevelt, his attendants and a Louisiana Black Bear Cub. It was said that having failed to shoot any bears a bear cub was caught and presented to Roosevelt to shoot. He refused. This is the accepted story on the birth of Teddy Bears, but at the time a different story emerged. A bear killed one of the hunting dogs and in the process was badly wounded. Roosevelt ordered a mercy killing to end the bear’s misery. We can understand why the first story was so readily accepted. In 1903 a year after Berryman’s cartoon appeared in the Washington Post, Russian émigrés Morris and Rose Michtom of Brooklyn, New York, made a jointed plush version of Berryman’s Bear. Around the same time German Margaret Steiff a wheelchair bound polio victim took a large order (3,000) jointed Teddy bears for a New York department store. The period between 1903 and 1908 became known as the ‘Bear Years’ and by 1907 Teddy’s Bear boosted by Seymour Eaton’s rhyming Tales ‘Roosevelt bears’ became universally known as the Teddy Bear. Boosted by increasing demand for these loveable creatures soft toy manufactures sprung up in Europe and the USA. By 1909 the Teddy Bear appeared in a children’s story ‘The Tale of Teddy Bright Eyes’ which fuelled demand in Britain Since February 1903 to this date, these soft to touch and easy to love Teddy Bears have become a favourite item for children and adults alike worldwide.

Evolution of the Teddy Bear

Teddy bear has evolved from a toy. Today it is high-ticket collector's item and Teddy Bears come in thousands of designs. Collector Teddy Bears are hand or machine sewn by Teddy Bear artists. These Teddy Bears are mainly sold directly by the artists through Teddy Bear shows or through the internet. The smooth, soft fur also has great stories to tell. Mohair is a kind of fur combed from a long haired goat. Our super soft new Ko-Hair fabric has been produced to replicate this Mohair fabric There are also Teddy Bear artists who specialise in making Teddy Bears out of recycled clothing or materials.

We have recently seen the rise of the Personalised Teddy Bear that are sent out as a communication medium. These Teddy Bears are personalised with names or messages. People send out these Personalised Teddy Bears on special occasions like birthdays, fathers' day, Valentine's Day, Christmas etc. The Personalised Teddy Bear is also an effective advertising medium and makes an excellent corporate promotional tool.

From simple playthings to Personalised Gifts and Corporate Promotional tools, Teddy Bears are readily acceptable and always create warmth in the minds of people who receive them.

Please note: These Teddy Bears have been specially created for you. You will not find them anywhere else.
They are a unique gift.