The most widely told story on the origin of the stuffed bears that are known as Teddy Bears is the one that relates to President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1902 Roosevelt was on a hunting trip to Mississippi with several other hunters and most of them had already killed an animal. Roosevelt's attendants cornered,clubbed and tied a Black Bear to a willow tree. They called Roosevelt to the site suggesting that he shoot the bear,but he refused saying it was unsportsmanlike. The Washington Post made a political cartoon of his refusal that ran on November 16,1902. Morris Michtom saw the cartoon and was inspired to create a new toy. He sent a stuffed bear to Roosevelt and received permission to use his name and began displaying the bears in his shop window with a sign that read "Teddy's Bear". The toys were an immediate success and Michtom founded the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co.
Around the same time in Germany Richard Steiff produced a stuffed bear which was exhibited at the Leipzig Toy Fair in March 1903,his version was called "55PB". Although Steiff and Michtom were making the bears around the same time neither knew of the other's creation due to poor transatlantic communication. It remains unknown which of the two produced the first stuffed bear.
Happy Friday the 13th!
Around the same time in Germany Richard Steiff produced a stuffed bear which was exhibited at the Leipzig Toy Fair in March 1903,his version was called "55PB". Although Steiff and Michtom were making the bears around the same time neither knew of the other's creation due to poor transatlantic communication. It remains unknown which of the two produced the first stuffed bear.
Happy Friday the 13th!
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| 55PB |
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