Ken Yenke is an author, historian, teddy bear appraiser and museum curator who will answer questions about your vintage bears and toys.

See the "How to submit information for an appraisal" below.

Hello Ken,

I believe this is a mint condition Marnie bear and has had only one previous owner.

Addam

Great looking Steiff teddy bear. He was sold between 1948 and 1953, and seems to be in mint condition.   Today the market price for this model of post WWII Steiff bears is a little soft but in this condition I would insure it at $1500.00 Collectors are paying $750 to $1,000 at auction and at antique-teddy bear shows.

The bear will only increase in value if you keep it in this condition. History and owner's photos would enhance it over time.
Ken

Hi, I’m describing my bear that I believe is close to 100 years old. The bear is approximately 13 inches tall.  The eyes are black or very dark brown.  I can’t tell if they are glass or not. The pads appear to be felt. Both arms and legs are movable.  There are no markings on him but he’s in good shape, both front and back.

Denise

Since you only sent one photo to go by and what I see is true, you have a great 1907 Cinnamon colored Steiff teddy bear. The condition looks great in the photo and I will assume it has a squeeze voice box. Estimating from the photo only I would judge your 13" Steiff teddy to be in the $2,000 range, more or less depending on a more detailed examination.
Congratulations! I love your bear!
Ken

I bought this bear and the seller said it was a circus bear from the 40's. The bear has no tags and stands 10". I have no clue what kind of fabric was used but it is not made from mohair or alpaca wool. It looks tan and fabric is brighter and a little more of a pink-tan where it is jointed. The eyes are set high, the muzzle is vinyl or some other rubber like material. It wears a red collar which most likely is not the original. The paw pads are in a velvet like material, no stitched claws. I do not believe it is stuffed with wood wool or foam rubber. Might be kapok.

Warm Regards, Rose

Rose your teddy was made in Japan in the 1950's. The maker was Gund.   They, like other manufacturers were searching for lower cost production. Your bear is made from synthetic plush, a rubber like face and pin joints Value today is $50 and up.
Ken

Ken, We don't know much about this bear. He has been in the family since 1914 and was a 'toy' that "just sat around" as my dad says or can remember. He is 85. The bear is scratchy, filled with some wood shavings, missing an eye and is 17" tall. Any info you can give us about this bear is greatly appreciated.   Thanks Lucy in CA

Interesting teddy bear Lucy. You mention 1914 and I would take it back to 1912 as it appears to be a mourning bear. As you know when the Titanic sunk bear companies, like Steiff, Farrnell, and others produced black bears to display in memory of those who lost their life. Your bear is American made and with wear, one eye, partial nose, it is still worth a couple of hundred dollars. If it had been a Steiff black bear from that period it would be worth many thousands! Note: black bears tended to scare children, so you find few of them from the early days like yours.
Ken

Hello! I would appreciate any information you can provide about my teddy bear. 

Sincerely, Helen D.

Helen the bear photo appears to be made of pure sheep's wool. This style was primarily made in England and Australia. Originally leather backed, they eventually split and came apart as the internal kapok stuffing expanded from moisture. Later they changed the stuffing and backing to what yours seems to be dating from the 1980's onward. Your soft teddy is valued in the $100.00 range.

A little fact: 100% wool helps you sleep 30% better by releasing endorphins!

Hi Ken,
I received this bear as a gift about 10 years ago.  He is 15" tall and
has a working squeaker in his tummy. He's a wonderful bear and I'd love to know who manufactured him, his approximate age and value. Thank you.
Sharlene

This bear dates from the 1930 to 1940 period. Pads are recovered, nose is partial, eyes are replaced and there is substantial wear to the Mohair. These items reduce the value in the market-place. Positive is the face of the teddy, Pooh like and leads me to believe it was made in England prior to WWII. I could name some makers that could have made the bear, but the features are not as original as I would like to identify this bear. Many good makers such as Farnell, Deans and Merrythought did Pooh looking bears at that time. Current value would be $200.00. With your family provenance with childhood photos with the bear it could double.

Ken

Hello Ken,

I have had this bear for 46 years. Before that it was my mother’s childhood toy, to my knowledge it has always been in our family. I do not know any history of where it originally was made, but my mother grew up in the Albany, New York area. Any information that you can provide on this item is greatly appreciated.

Jim R

Great little bear! This is what as known as a crib bear having no joints or hard areas.  It could be safely put in a crib and served as a comforting pillow as well. This style dates from the 1930's And was made by a couple of top US makers. Yours appears to be an original Gund which is relatively rare since it is a panda.   Try to find a photo of your Mom with it as a child and a photo of you with the bear as a child. If you have none, take some today with your bear to enhance the provenance. Insure this family treasure for $200.00
Ken

Hello Ken

I was wondering if you could appraise my teddy bear. Attached are 2 pictures. He is 20 inches, has a pull music box inside him. He is from the early 1970’s. He does require his face to be stitched and the music box fixed as it only plays a little music. There are no tags or labels left on him.

Tracy F. in Australia

The little bear has some issues with the mouth, perhaps it was an opened mouth bear and the felt has been removed.  From what is remaining is a boy's blue and white silk plush teddy dating from late 1940's to the 1950's.  The googlie eyes and material date him for us and the music box tells us he was intended as a pillow style crib bear (no joints.) 20" is a large size for this style and I would love to know what tune it plays. It is probably a Swiss music box.  In the current condition I would place the value at less than $100.00 however if the mouth can be recovered and the music box fixed to play, it remains a vintage treasure to you.  The bear was probably made in England, but in its current condition I can not give you the exact maker. Ken

Hi Ken,

I am requesting an appraisal on a Cat not a bear, however this cat looks very much like a bear and I’m sure you are experienced in appraising most of the Steiff Animals and others. I’ve had this cat for at least 35 years and I feel like he is pretty early. I bought him from an Estate sale and the house was full of antiques. He is 5 jointed. I’m not sure if his fur is mohair or wool, I am not good on determining that. He is white and has bright green glass eyes.  His ears are light brown or tan leather on the inside, his upper paws and feet are covered with red leather.  e measures 14 inches in length and his tail is 7 inches long. His whiskers, ears, nose nose & eyes are all in perfect condition. 

Suzanne

Hello Suzanne.

The teddy cat, teddy lion and teddy rabbit were marketed from 1907 thru 1910. You have a teddy cat that is jointed just like the other animals.  EI Horsman made The rabbits, and could have made your cat. Uncle Remus toys, and several other early American makers could have made yours.

 Suffice it to say it is unusual, cute as it can be and carries the American traits. Pre WWI, I would place a value in the $1500.00 range.
Ken

I purchased this bear after reading at least 7" of books like you suggested. I originally thought this was an early Bing but now I'm just not sure. His glass eyes don't seem to fit him. Shouldn't he have shoe buttons? The more I learn, the more I realize just how much I don't know. This bear is 11inches . I'm even wondering if he may be an artist bear?
Thanks for looking at him,
Leslie

Leslie, you have a very nice doll size 11" teddy bear. It is definitely not a Bing and also not an artist bear. It is an early American teddy dating from 1907 to 1910.  My best guess for a manufacturer would be Strauss from New York. This smaller size is harder to find than the typical 15" to 17" size. Collector price would be $500 and up, in excellent condition. Thanks for reading all those good books and after a 70" stack of teddy bear books, I was still learning.

Ken

Hi again Ken,
   Here is another bear that I have looked through every book I have and can't find anything even close. This is a 16" bear. He has stitches in the back of his head. Bear collecting is certainly an adventure!
Thanks,
Leslie

Leslie, great looking teddy bear.  I can see why you have not found an
exact replica of your bear in any book, because there isn't one.  Your teddy has the traits of 4 or 5 major bear makers, but not all of any of them.  Here is what we can surmise from the photos you sent me.

Hi Ken, I saw your web site and just what I was looking for - an expert to evaluate an old Steiff Teddy Baby to give me some idea of value. The bear, approximately 17 inches tall, was my wife's mothers when she was a young girl. I'm not a collector (though I'm fond of this one) so don't know much about them except what I've found on the internet. The ear button seems to put it in the 1950 - 1952 year range which would make sense because of it's known age. Certainly some signs of wear as hopefully can be seen in the pictures. Seems complete with button, collar and bell, and tag. Wish I had more info or history to tell you, but hopefully the pictures will give you enough info to place some kind of value and a little history on it.

Thanks so much!

Colleen,

Colleen a great bear and try to find earlier photos of him with your Mom. It is very unusual for a few reasons as Teddy Baby was one of the most popular bears ever made. Richard Steiff designed teddy baby in the 1920's and it originally had a closed mouth. Your bear has the open mouth, but the identification with your bear is unique. In 1948 Steiff had to sew a "Made In US Zone" tag in items they intended to sell and this went on until 1953.

The chest tag on your bear was used until 1941, however after the war they used any tags available, so you have an older tag on the bear! The button, blocked type STEIFF In all caps, was specially made for post WWII production items and only Used for one or two years. 17" tall was the largest stock size and yours seems to be in good condition. With family provenance and all the great identification, I would insure the bear for $1,500.00 Enjoy your teddy baby!  Ken

I would like to know about my bear. He has a growler that works when it feels like it, He is fully jointed and 26 inches tall.

Kind regards Karen

Karen,

26" would represent the largest stock size of the day. Your teddy is
an American bear, with facial features attributed to E.I. Horsman. The stuffing on many of these bears was "cork." If it is excelsior, it is
another stuffing they would use as well. The leather like pads are indeed nicely done replacements from a time
long ago, the originals would have been a light weight wool felt, which did not seem to stand the test of time. In good condition, but with substantial mohair thinning, I would
certainly value your large American bear in the $500. range. It would
date from 1910 to 1915.
Ken

Hi Ken,
This bear was my grandfathers and I would like to get it appraised. He
was born in early 1900 and this was his teddy bear. His parents lived
in Germany before he was born so I'm not sure if it's a Steiff or American made. It is mohair, stands 35 cm tall and has a squeeze box in the belly. I am looking forward to finding out about this teddy bear! Thank you,
Michelle

Michelle, great old teddy bear. Judging from the photo, it appears to be a circa 1908-1909 Steiff teddy bear in the 13" size. If you have photos of the bear with anyone from the early years it
would magnify the value.   Provenance of your grandfather
is great, but substantiated with photos is even better. The teddy as it sits is valued in the $1200. range. It would climb to $1800 with any family photos with the bear.
Thanks, Ken

Hello Ken

Here are the pictures of my vintage 11 inch mohair bear with moveable  arms, legs and head on what appears to be cast iron wheels (pull toy?). He has some type of metal framework within the shoulder area and he is firmly stuffed. A previous owner must have sewn on the large plastic button in one ear (which I recently removed) but beneath that area is a round indention that I believe might have been where a small button had originally been sewn on. Could this be a turn of the century Steiff or Ideal Toy Company teddy bear? He is in good condition and still very adorable. I would really appreciate your opinion on who originally made him and what his appraised value might be. Thank you, Bonnie

This is all I know about the bear: it has no markings or tags. It was purchased by my parents in 1980 at an auction in San Diego for $75. She believes it to be over 60 years old.

I do not know where it originated from, or who the maker is. I'd like to know its worth and its history. I'll be passing it down to my daughter who was born last year.

The bear itself is in great condition. I do not recall it ever having torn limbs and it doesn't appear to have any re-stitching. The fabric on the underwear, boots and logo have worn through time. Pen ink stain on right boot.

Cape is in good condition.

Shaun

This bear appears to be a Super Ted, one of the many characters created
in the 70's and 80's, mainly made in England. They were not expensive when made and have not, even in mint condition gathered much value. However from a family standpoint, photos and memories can be invaluable. With the history and in somewhat loved condition, I would estimate less than $100.00

Ken

Ken Yenke

Appraiser & Features Writer

Member since March 2007

How to submit information for an appraisal

Fee is $20.00 each bear

Send your photo and bear information to editor@bearsandbuds.com and when PayPal funds are received, Ken will appraise your bear, tell you it's history and value via your eMail.

Be sure to include your name and location.

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