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:

Retired or Discontinued

	Boyds Best Dressed Bear Orvis T. Fisher with Tad - Retired #904131	-	$10.00 $20.00	15m
	BOYD'S BEAR'S American Greeting "Momma McBear w little Tot' safe in Momma's arms		$9.99	16m
	BOYD'S BEARS Calorina Counting...Just the way I am NIB		$8.99	16m
	Boyds 7" Bear wearing peapod costume	1	$4.00	16m
	BOYDS #1 MOM BEARS~♥~FELICITY N HUGS~♥~ MWTS		$17.59	22m
	Boyds Plush * Arthur Oscar * New Artist Bear Armacost		$31.45	23m
	Boyds Bears Katie		$8.99	24m
	Vintage Boyds Bear Jocelyn Bloomengrows c. 1999		$39.99	26m
	BOYDS BEAR BEARSTONE~✿~BAILEY.BEAR with SUITCASE~✿~MIB		$19.99	30m
	SET OF 5 -PRESIDENTIAL MOHAIR BEARS by "BOYD'S"	-	$74.99	37m
	Boyds Bears Chauncey		$4.99	38m
	Vintage Boyds Valentine Bear 5" Retired		$12.00	41m
	Boyds Bears & Friends The Adventures of Rudy Reduced price!!!!!	-	$4.99	42m
	Dinah Out Born To Shop Forced To Cook Boyds Bear Plush Toy Stuffed Animal BNWT		$15.00	44m
	Boyds Bears & Friends Packy and Dermah Trunkspace Elephant Noah's Ark #2	4	$5.14	50m
	Boyds Bears Lot 2 Eddie Bauer & Florimae Bearley 10" Toby Nominee T J's Best Dr.	1	$3.99	51m
	BOYDS BEARS Out of the Blue Tote Bag PLUSH Cafe 904626		$17.98	53m
	BOYDS BEARS CAMEL~✿~SIR HUMPSLEY~✿~MWTS & CANTEEN!		$18.39	54m
	BOYDS BEAR~♥~DEE DEE B THERE~♥~FRIENDS ARE LIKE BRAS..*		$34.99	54m
	PRETTY BOYDS BEAR~♥~REBA QUILTBEARY~♥~MWTS NICE HAT!		$15.99	59m
	Boyds Bears and Bunnies - Lot of 9	-	$35.00	1h 2m
	BEAUTIFUL BOYDS BEARS IN GREAT HAT~♥~MRS. MERTZ~♥~MWTS		$27.99	1h 14m
	Boyds Bears Curley Bean Filled Bunny Vintage 14" Plus		$15.00	1h 25m
	Boyds Bears & Friends Elephant with baby 1988-2007 magnets in hands EUC	1	$5.95	1h 32m
	Boyds Bears 2001 Canadian Exclusive SARAH JANE Plush 8" h LE Bear Retired w.Tag		$15.99	1h 35m
	BOYDS HARRY & DAVID EXC BEAR ELLIOT WITH PEAR SWEATER		$36.50	1h 35m
	MABEL GOODHEART KINDNESS Boyds Bears Bearwear PIN PINS		$3.74	1h 36m
	BOYD'S BEARS AND FRIENDS 1999 20TH ANNIVERSARY HEARTLEY B. MINE		$16.50	1h 37m
	Boyds Bears "Marla Spucebeary" # 915501 plush bear NWT		$12.00	1h 43m
	Boyds Bears 20th Anniversary Angus Macmoo Mint w Tags	-	$19.95 $22.95	1h 49m
	Boyds Bears Lot 2 Freddy Beanberger 911901 Leo Bruinski 918320 Bearwear w TAGS	1	$4.99	1h 51m
	Boyds Collectors Edition Mohair Jointed Teddy B. Bear w Button & Hang Tag 8"	-	$9.95	1h 56m
	SET OF THREE SPORTS BOYDS BEARS ~ EACH 8" TALL	-	$24.99 $27.50	1h 58m
	Boyds Bear Cagney		$8.00	1h 59m
	Boyds Bear 15" Jonathan MacBear Boyds Collection with Tag	-	$3.99	1h 59m
	Boyds Bear 13" Braxton B. Bear Style #51081-08 Fully Jointed with TAG LQQK	-	$3.99	1h 59m