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When one thinks about stuffed animals and plush toys today one almost always thinks of the iconic teddy bear. However, the teddy bear is actually a fairly recent arrival. The first of them came in 1902 when a store owner in Brooklyn, New York saw a political cartoon called 'Drawing the Line in Mississippi'. This cartoon showed then president Theodore Roosevelt, who was also known as 'Teddy', refusing to shoot a cornered bear during an actual hunting trip. Roosevelt stated that it would not be very sportsmanlike of him to do so.

The bear had appeared in a past series of cartoons as cute, cuddly and small. The store owner, Morris Michtom, used this image to inspire the creation of stuffed bears marketed as toys for children. The store was already equipped to produce the toys as his wife had been produced stuffed bears for some time so Morris was able to begin producing stuffed bears in the image of the President immediately.

Michtom sent President Roosevelt a sample bear, along with a request for permission to use the President's nickname as part of the toy's name. President Roosevelt agreed, and the toy bear began its journey into the public consciousness. These stuffed bears proved very popular from the beginning. Mr. Michtom posted a 'Teddy's Bear' sign in his store window, and the name 'Teddy Bear' soon became synonymous with these stuffed animals.

Within a few years, other stores began selling similar stuffed animals. These stuffed animals were marketed throughout the United States and Europe. Many books, music, and media of the time referenced the toy bear. As the years rolled by, the teddy bear became a popular collectible item, valued by collectors of toys, vintage dolls, and antique dolls.

There are some toy bears that have quite a bit of value. An example of this is a toy bear made partly from gold, which was produced by the original maker in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the toy and it is selling for $84,000. The company that first marketed the teddy bear, which is the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co., is Michtom's company and is still in business today.

Collecting toy bears doesn't require investing thousands of dollars. Vintage toy bears can be found at garage sales, flea markets, online auctions, and special collector's venues. Besides its status as a collectible, this toy bear, named in honor of a popular President, still makes a great friend for young children.

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