The Century of the Teddy Bear Book

Teddy bears were a completely new toy for a new century and their history mirrors international events as well as personal involvements. Bears were lightly regarded until the late 1970s, when they began to attract interest from America, and later, Japan. Prices soared in the 1980s, especially for those made by Steiff, and there was a sudden growth in related magazines, fairs and conventions.

Bears are now as much a part of the antique scene as dolls or die-cast toys but have a wider general following because of the current mascot market. At the beginning of the century, bears were intended mainly for children but today the new owner is just as likely to be an adult. This dual intention is fully explored in this new book that celebrates the history of the bear. The book is narrative in style, with a text that is both informative and entertaining to both the specialist collector and those whose interest is more nostalgic. Most of the photographs were especially taken for the book and give a visual overview of the development of the bear, from the beginning to the present day.