Teddy Bears, Wooden, and Plush

Teddy bears have been a widely appreciated toy phenomenon since the beginning of the twentieth century. The goal of HalcyonBears.com is to provide reliable and unbiased information covering their history, use, and care. The subjects covered within our site span topics ranging from the plush teddy bear to baby dolls, the wooden teddy bear and wood toys to pink or giant designs and clothes or other accessories.

Today, teddy bears are a commonly found toy throughout a wide range of cultures and regions. For many people, they are among the earliest "friends" remembered. These soft little pals have heard many secrets and offered a great amount of support over the years, and continue to provide such friendship to children today.

Despite how common they are, many people do not realize that their history barely spans beyond a century. This is unlike the doll, which is known to have existed far before recorded human history.

The start of the teddy bear toy's reign begins with a political cartoon created by a man named Clifford Berryman. The cartoon in question depicted the former president Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt refusing to shoot a cute and adorable bear cub. It referred to a hunting trip that occurred as Theodore Roosevelt was in Mississippi to settle a border dispute. The hunting was poor that day while the people he was with desired for him to have a great hunting trip. For that reason, a bear was caught and it was suggested that he shoot it. He refused to take out the captive animal as a matter of honor. As a result, the cartoon was called "Drawing The Line" and it referred to both the hunting scenario and the border dispute.

Inspired by this cartoon, a man named Morris Michtom created a stuffed animal design he called "Teddy's Bear." He sent the president his first version and got permission before selling the product. It was an instant success. In fact, Michtom was able to found his own company a few years later based on the money earned from these sales. The Ideal Novelty and Toy Co was created as a result. It eventually became Ideal Toy Company.

Independently yet at the same time, the Steiff company in Germany was creating its own bear designs. The company introduced its Baer 55PB during the March 1903 Leipzig Toy Fair. European buyers did not have a high amount of interest. However, an American buyer ordered 3,000. This gave the company an enormous boost. It also soothed and encouraged the growing fever surrounding Teddy Bears in America.

Today, the Steiff company still exists and is known for supplying very high quality bears. The founder of the company, Margarete Steiff, held to the motto, "Only the best is good enough for children."

From these origins, a wide range of stuffed bear options have become available today. While the plush teddy bear remains among the most widely valued, as far as material choices go, it is also possible to purchase other material types. For instance, often people desire wooden teddy bear designs for play, decoration, or to serve other purposes.

 

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