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The teddy bear, that iconic symbol of childhood, owes its existence to an act of kindness on the part of Theodore Roosevelt, the twenty-sixth president of the United States. On a 1902 hunting trip in Mississippi, Roosevelt's hosts trapped a bear and offered Roosevelt the chance to shoot it. Roosevelt refused, saying that it would be unsportsmanlike to shoot a helpless animal. This incident became the basis for a political cartoon called "Drawing the Line in Mississippi". Morris Michtom, a store owner in Brooklyn, saw the cartoon and was inspired to create a stuffed toy bear, which he named "Teddy" after Roosevelt.

The bear was portrayed as a small, cute, and cuddly in a series of cartoon. It was these images that inspired Morris Michtom, a store owner, to create and start selling these in his store as a toy for small children. His wife was already making such bears for the store, so it was easy to begin marketing this toy affectionately named after a President.

Michtom sent a sample of the toy to President Roosevelt, requesting at the same time that the President allow use of his nickname in the name of the toy. President Roosevelt okayed this, and this is where the toy teddy bear began to become a part of popular culture. From their earliest days these stuffed bears showed great popularity, and when Mr. Michtom put a sign in his window advertising 'Teddy Bears' this name soon become synonymous with these stuffed animals.

In a matter of only a few years similar stuffed animals were being sold by other stores. These stuffed animal toys were quickly marketed throughout the U.S. and also through Europe. These toy bears were also mentioned in a variety of books, music, and other media of the day. The teddy bear soon became another popular item for collectors along with other toys, vintage dolls, and antique dolls.

Some collectible bears have become increasingly valuable. To mark the 125th anniversary of the teddy bear, the original manufacturer, the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co., created a bear made of woven gold. These incredible bears are now selling for $48,000. The Ideal Novelty and Toy Co. Is making bears.

It's not necessary to spend thousands of dollars in order to collect toy bears. Yard sales, flea markets, online auctions and venue's for collectors are all places to find vintage toy bears. This toy bear shares it's name with a popular president, and in addition to it being a collectible, it is also something that makes a great friend for young children.

Discover the amazing world of teddy bears at The Vintage Doll Shoppe. We're the net's one-stop for vintage doll collecting. Browse a huge selection of vintage dolls for sale including Bisque, composition, celluloid, china, tin/metal, wooden, and other and antique dolls. We share our latest interesting finds in The Doll House, our blog devoted to vintage dolls. While visiting, enjoy our collection of videos showcasing antique doll collections, restoration tip videos, vintage commercials, and much more!