Teddy Bears as Collectibles

The story goes that Teddy Roosevelt, on a hunting trip, was having difficulty finding bears.  Being president and all, the other members of his party wanted to please him and brought along a small bear cub just in case, which they tied to a tree. President Roosevelt appalled at the idea of shooting a defenseless baby, refused the offer to end the youngster’s life.  Newspapers got a hold of the story and ran with it, until everyone was calling the cub, Teddy’s Bear.  Several varieties of Teddy’s Bear were produced as toys. Later the name Teddy Bear without the ‘s’ came into style.

With such a sweet beginning and the fact that most children have had a least one bear friend, these delightful toys are in great demand as collectibles. Of course antique and vintage bears top the list of valuable investments, but modern bears can be a fun hobby with profit potential if chosen with care. In time any cute well-made bear can escalate in price.  Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bears are always a popular choice that keep their value and are reasonably easy to re-sell.  Artist limited edition bears usually come in a myriad of colors and costumes. And just like any limited edition item, can become increasingly in demand on the collectible market.