Beginning your Antique Bear Collection

Collecting antique and vintage teddy bears is a very enjoyable and popular hobby. Teddy Bears have a special appeal that takes us back to childhood days and early memories and the nostalgia and sentiments of a time gone by. However beyond the emotion appeal, a Bear collection is an investment and some knowledge is required so that you can invest prudently. There are lots of sources of information available on the subject of toy collecting for the novice and the experienced collector alike, and much is available freely online. ...contined below

eBay's Most Watched

CUTE RARE ANTIQUE CHAD VALLEY BONZO DOG eBay Watchers: 104 Price: $323.9

Antique Vtg French Bulldog Steiff Like Soft Toy 1920s Chum For You Bears eBay Watchers: 72 Price: $79.0

Antique 1952/53 Mohair Steiff Bear Original! Clean! No Reserve! eBay Watchers: 69 Price: $390.0

Antique Vtg Well Loved Merrythought bear, 1930s , "Captain Marmaduke" eBay Watchers: 67 Price: $56.88

RARE CHOCOLATE BROWN CURLY MOHAIR CHAD VALLEY "GRUNTER" TEDDY BEAR c1915 eBay Watchers: 65 Price: $491.38

APPEALING MINIATURE WHITE MOHAIR STEIFF TEDDY BEAR c1910 MUST SEE! eBay Watchers: 64 Price: $137.46

Many antique and vintage Bear collectors eventually focus on a particular make and era of bear, such as Vintage Steiff bears, or Schuco Yes-No Bears for example. If you are new to bear collecting then its a good idea to look at what others are collectiing at places such as online auctions sites, note the condition and level of interest and closing prices for items that appeal to you. and when its time for you to begin your collection, decide on our budget and then then aim for the best condition items that fit within your budget.

Values of toys are driven not only by the condition and rarity of the item but by demand. Book values of bears refer to near mint items, so consider them as a guideline only. Before you bid at an online auction be aware that values can fluctuate quite and bit over time so it a good idea to start off by watching bears that appeal to you on ebay and checking the closing prices for the completed auctions.

Following is a sample of Antique and Vintage Bears from eBay:

Raikes

	Raikes Bears Angie Aerobics	1	$5.00	15m
	Robert Raikes Bears Tom Sawyer & Becky Thatcher New +COA NIB Lim Ed		$74.99	1h 14m
	Limited Edition Raikes Bear "Daisy"	-	$25.00 $45.00	2h 45m
	Limited Edition Raikes Bear "Reginald"	-	$20.00 $40.00	2h 45m
	Large Raikes 1987 Limited Edition Bear #175 7500 Pink Dress & Bonnet ADORABLE!		$75.00	3h 48m
	*Vintage*RAIKES BEARS*April & Johnnie*WOOD*Doll*FIGURE*1993*Plush*APPLAUSE*Set*2	3	$10.30	5h 11m
	1989 Raikes Bear Cokie	-	$9.99	5h 48m
	Raikes Bear Winter Flower Fairy Numbered, with box and COA. Unregistered.	-	$15.99	6h 8m
	Robert Raikes Angie Aerobics Bear	-	$0.99 $12.00	8h 11m
	Robert RAIKES Bear - 1985 CHELSEA w Certificate - EXCELLENT	-	$40.00	8h 43m
	ROBERT RAIKES BEAR golfer Arnold Palmer golf wooden face paws L9072 15000 EUC		$27.30	9h 47m
	Robert Raikes New 2000 17 inch 'Uncle Sam' Bear Numbered w COA in Orginal Box!	-	$105.00 $135.00	19h 33m
	Robert Raikes New 2000 Pastelle Bear #114 1500 with the COA in Orginal Box!	-	$125.00 $145.00	19h 44m
	Robert Raikes New 2000 Rocco Bear Signed & # 7 750 with the COA in Orginal Box!	-	$225.00 $255.00	19h 53m
	Robert Raikes New 2000 'Sidney & Caroline' Bears # 201 500 COA in Orginal Box!	-	$135.00 $160.00	20h 5m
	17" Raikes Santa Bear Jointed Plush Doll W Tags & Box		$99.99	21h 49m
	Robert Raikes Collectible Bear-Annie Applause 1988 Mother’s Day	-	$10.00	23h 14m
	3 ROBERT RAIKES JESTER BEARS	-	$100.00	23h 33m
	Robert Raikes Hand SIGNED Plush Wood PANDA BEAR #4445		$21.00	1d 1h 52m
	♥ Robert Raikes LUCILLE & DAPHNE Mothers Day Mom Daughter Bear Wood Plush Dolls!		$49.99	1d 4h 28m
	Robert Raikes Bear - Kathie	-	$30.00 $49.00	1d 5h
	RAIKES BEAR SUMMER FLOWER FAIRY NEW WITH TAG	-	$13.99	1d 6h 13m
	ROBERT RAIKES SICHUAN PANDA BEAR HAND CARVED 32 OF 1500	4	$22.05	1d 6h 19m
	Robert Raikes Gotham Bear RARE Limited Edition 2001		$146.00	1d 7h 15m
	Angel Bear Tree Topper by Raikes		$33.96	1d 9h 13m
	Robert Raikes Sichuan Panda Bear Hand Carved 444 1500 Limited Edition	1	$23.23	1d 10h 13m
	Robert Raikes Bear - THE ROYAL COURT - King William - EXC - #7071 10000	-	$27.99	1d 17h 5m
	Robert Raikes Bear - THE ROYAL COURT - Queen Mary - EXC - #8915 10000	-	$27.99	1d 17h 7m
	Robert Raikes Bear - THE ROYAL COURT - THE COURT JESTER - EXC - #2175 10000	-	$19.99	1d 17h 8m
	Queen Mary Raikes Bear, 1990 Royal Court Collection, Never used	-	$17.99	1d 18h 3m
	Limited Edition Angie the Acrobat, A Raikes Bear		$18.88	1d 20h 38m
	Applause Wooden Face Raikes "ALISON" Bear w cradle		$29.99	1d 20h 43m
	LOT 2 Robert Raikes carved wood bears cupid holiday valentine toy exc cond	-	$19.95 $29.95	1d 20h 48m
	Robert Raikes Bears-Camp Grizzly Jeremy-New in Box-Check Him Out	-	$65.00 $80.00	1d 20h 59m
	Raikes Bears - Flower Fairies, 4 seasons	2	$11.00	1d 21h 32m
	Raikes - Nurse Nena bear	2	$1.25	1d 21h 34m