Collecting Teddy Bears

What qualities do you need to look for when buying a vintage bear? What makes a certain old bruin more valuable than another? Is it better to buy in mint condition rather than a more loved character? How can a value truly be determined? What would make the best investment? How can I be sure the bear is genuine and that I am getting what I am paying for? Should I buy on line?

These are the questions that people ask when collecting teddy bears, either for the love of it, or for investment. It is firstly important to establish just why you want to collect old teddies. On the investment side, it is impossible to guarantee that any collectable item will go up in value. It is a little like dealing in stocks and shares and can be a gamble, although for many people teddy bear collecting has provided a better investment than a regular savings account where the interest rates can be a little unimpressive.

Old teddy bears became especially popular towards the end of the 1980’s and prices rose steadily as demand grew. Auction houses such as Christies in London began to hold regular teddy bear sales instead of including them in a general toy sale. In those days few people even dreamed of ever owning a computer and collectors went out hunting for teddy bears - at local auctions, antique fairs and house clearance sales. That was definitely part of the fun! What could be more thrilling than finding an old abandoned teddy bear at a car boot sale, never before offered for sale on the open market?

But the Internet now means that buying on-line is easy and you find old toys for sale all over the world with the click of a button. The downside is that you don’t always know who you are dealing with and you are buying from a photograph rather than the real thing. Always ask for a return option whenever possible, and always buy from a reputable dealer or auction house until you feel you feel confident enough to make your own judgement. Whatever we collect, it takes time to be knowledgeable and spot a fake from the real thing – and reproduction teddy bears have flooded the market for years, especially since the world record was broken when a Steiff cinnamon bear fetched £110,000 at Christies in 1994.

If you buy wisely then it is like having money in the bank but, as with most investments, nothing can be guaranteed about future value. Merrythought Cheeky bears were realising huge prices for the past few years, being especially favoured by Japanese collectors. Values soared as sellers recognised the demand, but this appeared to exhaust the market, most likely temporarily, and prices now seem to be levelling out. This has also happened with other examples, but normally demand increases again once the product is no longer so freely available.

Some people have a passion for all kinds of soft toys including old stuffed animals, whereas others specialise in one particular type such as Steiff or Farnell. Many collectors only like the worn little characters, shying away from mint condition bears as they feel they do not show enough character for their particular taste. Others would frown upon owning a scruffy bear, enjoying the more pristine look yet deriving pleasure from the fact it is still a very old toy. Luckily, the varied taste from one enthusiast to the next generally ensures that there are enough oldies to go around!

Obviously, for investment purposes it is better to purchase in as mint condition as possible, with identification labels being a bonus. A Steiff item with all its tags will command a far greater price than one without. The value will rise still further if provenance exists. Nevertheless, most old Steiff have certainly proved to be great investments over the years, increasing in value at a steady rate and still holding the world record for any soft toy that was ever sold at auction.

However, for many of us, collecting soft toys is not just about investment. We indulge for the sheer enjoyment those treasured softies bring into our lives. Even the loved old boys can increase in value, so long as you pay a fair market price to start with. Worn characters with a little provenance or a photograph of themselves with the original owner are very much in demand and will generally fetch a higher price than one without. Sadly this is a rare find as so much of Ted’s history is usually lost over the years. If only they could talk to us and tell us of all their adventures!