Vintage Bears
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Welcome to Vintage Bears UK! The Best Vintage and Antique Teddy Bears Online! Old Bears by Mail Order Delivery!

Vintage Bears UK are an authorised eBay affiliate and we are delighted to bring together for you an extensive vintage bear range available on eBay along with some unbeatable savings!

Teddy bears aren’t just for children! In these times of economic uncertainty, a vintage teddy can make a sound financial investment, not to mention bring beauty and nostalgia to your home! We are delighted to offer a huge range of vintage teddies, from Steiff to Paddington, Charlie Bears to Merrythought, along with some fabulous discounts!

We also stock a great selection of stuffed toy animals alongside our vintage bears, from Winnie the Pooh to Beatrix Potter to ‘Tickle Me Elmo’, please click on the links to the left to browse our categories!

Our listings are fully searchable – you’ll find the search facility at the top of the page. Just key in the item you’re looking for, hit ‘search’, and we’ll do our best to find it for you! Be sure to bookmark us, as our stocklist of teddies and stuffed toys is continuously updated. If you can’t find exactly the teddy bear you’re looking for today, we’re sure to have it tomorrow!

Vintage Bears

COLLECTING VINTAGE BEARS

If you are new to vintage bear collecting, you may wish to think about which particular type you find the most appealing. A shelf full of antique and modern, miniature and standard sized vintage bears will look a bit of a mish mash, whereas a small collection, of similar size and from the same period, will compliment one another. You may be drawn to the teddy bear brands of your childhood on a nostalgic level, or the exclusivity of antique bears. Perhaps the decadence of the Steiff appeals to you, or the quirkiness of the Care Bear. The key is to collect what you love. If you do decide later that you want to branch out (and you probably will!), you can always start another collection!

COLLECTOR'S TIPS

1. Condition

Significant damage will affect the value of your teddy bear, and possibly your enjoyment of him too. It is far better to pay more for damage free teddy bear, than one who has very obviously been through the wars! Of course, vintage bears will almost certainly show signs of age. A well-loved teddy bear may indeed have a bald snout, his fur rubbed away by a thousand goodnight kisses! If your antique teddy has clothes, these may have yellowed a little or faded. Don’t be tempted to clean the clothes of an old bear yourself – it may do much more harm than good. Stiff joints, worn pads and missing eyes can easily be fixed by an expert, though it is worth bearing in mind that the serious collectors out there are looking for teddies with original features. If your antique teddy bear has no clothes and is a touch on the bald side, it may be time to get him an outfit and give him a new lease of life!

2. Authenticity

We’re all familiar with the renowned Steiff buttons and dream of stumbling across the perfect teddy sporting one of those in his ear! Many manufacturers got into the habit of marking their teddies, either with a button or label somewhere on the body, and this can be a good indication of authenticity. It should be borne in mind, however, that many parents saw these appendages as hazards to little hands and mouths, or just found them unsightly. Many of these little indicators have long since been removed, though it is worth checking for traces – an indentation in the ear, a sliver of label in a seam – these telltale signs are key. The serious teddy bear collector may wish to invest in a book so that they may learn what other attributes to look for, for example, face and body shape, colour or material of the eyes and nose, etc. If in doubt, ask! There are fakes on the antique bear market, and the maxim ‘caveat emptor’ holds as well here as anywhere else. If the vendor can provide documentary or photographic evidence as to authenticity, you’ll want him to pass these on to you at point of sale. If you come to part with your teddy bear in the future, such evidence is highly prized by collectors and will help you attain a better price. It’s also useful for insurance purposes.

Antique Bears

3. Scarcity

It often follows that the smaller the number produced, the more highly prized the vintage bear.

4. Age

It usually follows that the older the teddy bear, the more sought after he will be by collectors and the higher the price Ted will achieve! Antique teddies produced before World War I are generally the most valuable. There are, however, exceptions to every rule. Louis Vuitton produced a small number of bears in 2000 fetching as much as £130,000 when they went under the hammer.

5. Size

It often follows that the bigger the teddy bear, the higher its value.

6. Expression

It is usually the case that the happier the teddy bear looks, the more sought after he will be. Other factors must be borne in mind, however. Sussenguth's Peter teddies are open mouthed and snarling – far from a happy bear! Parents were put off. The bears frightened their children. This led to the line being quickly discontinued, bringing us back to rarity again. Despite their fierce expressions, these bears are very much in demand now because of their exclusivity.

7. Accessories

Antique teddy bears which come with their features intact and, if clothed, with their original garments, are much more sought after. If they come complete with original accessories, for example jewellery or hats – even the box- so much the better as far as the teddy bear collector is concerned.

CARING FOR ANTIQUE TEDDY BEARS

If you are purchasing teddies purely as an investment for the future, then optimum storage conditions to preserve condition are achieved by carefully placing each teddy in a white pillowcase, and placing him in a wooden or cardboard box padded with wood-shavings, with a sachet infused with cedar, camphor or lavender to keep the dreaded moths at bay. Never store your teddies in plastic, as any moisture in the air will be trapped with them and may lead to a mould problem in time. Nor should you store your teddy bears in any coloured material. Again, there may be moisture in the air and the colour from the fabric may seep and tarnish poor Ted. Your teddies will need to be stored in a cool, dry place – a spare room will be ideal. Garages, cellars and lofts really are not good news as they are prone to humidity and extremes of temperature.

Most of us want our teddies somewhere we can see them so that we may enjoy our collection. Individual glass domes or display cases are ideal. Dust is the number one enemy of teddy bears, and a case will keep it at bay.

Teddy bears must be stored out of direct sunlight, otherwise they will quickly become faded. Vintage teddy bears are highly susceptible to extremes of temperature, and should be kept well away from radiators.

Moths, bugs and beetles can be a huge problem for collectors, eating away at teddies’ mohair. A particularly neat trick can be performed on your new teddy bear to prevent any larvae present in his fur from hatching and infecting the rest of your collection of teddies. You may place your teddy in a sealable bag, and pop him in the freezer for seven days (do be sure, however, that the bag is properly sealed to prevent any moisture from getting in). Teddy may be a little nippy for a while, but he will thank you in the long run! This is not recommended on musical or mechanical teddies – if in doubt, seek expert advice on your particular teddy.

Your teddy will need to be vacuumed from time to time, and we recommend popping a stocking over the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner, securing it with a rubber band. This prevents teddy’s appendages from being tugged too hard by the suction, reducing the danger of damage. You will still need to go very carefully however, steering clear of labels, buttons, loose stitching and eyes.

If teddy is still a bit dirty, you could give always give him a bed bath! Again, proceeding with extreme caution, dampen a fresh white dishcloth with a little lukewarm water and wring out. Do not use detergents or soap. Very gently, wipe the surface of the fur with the nap. This should remove any surface debris. Take care not to overwork the fur, and do not get water on his pads. When teddy is dry, give him a very gentle brush. A soft-bristled toothbrush is excellent for this.

We do not recommend any more radical cleaning be carried out by the novice collector. Remember, Ted’s been around for a long time, much longer than you, he’s bound to be feeling a bit fragile! If your teddy is in a really sad and sorry state, there are many experts out there ready to do a wonderful job for surprisingly reasonable rates. They can give teddy the new lease of life he’s been looking for, and the results can be truly amazing! Remember, so far as cleaning your antique teddy is concerned – less is definitely more. Doing nothing is far better than doing something which cannot be undone, potentially decimating poor old Ted’s value and leaving him horribly disfigured!

We are delighted to offer a magnificent selection of vintage bears, along with some very special offers! Please click on the links to take a look at our categories, or scroll up to the search facility at the top of the page. Scroll down to view our showcase of items available on eBay today and take advantage of some fantastic savings. Our listings are continually updated so please be sure to bookmark us. If you can't find the vintage bear you're looking for today, he's sure to be here tomorrow!