Additional Information About the 2019 Charlie Bears Fable Collection

Several of you have asked which pairs go together with the 2019 Charlie Bears Fables Collection. 

All of these amazing characters were inspired by the creator of Charlie Bears, Charlotte Morris.  These are some of her favorite fables and folklores.

Lil' Red & Sly (page 7 in the 2019 Charlie Bears catalog)

Aesop's Fables, The Hen and the Fox

Slow Coach & Speedy  (page 8+9 in the 2019 Charlie Bears catalog)

Aesop's Fables, The Tortoise and The Hare

A tale between two unequal partners, the Fox ridicules the slow-moving Tortoise. The Fox boldly takes a nap mid race, and the Tortoise keeps a steady slow-coach speed to win the race! Which I now see, is why our Slow Coach is looking very happy with himself !

Sarge & Winco Hopper (page 10+11 in the 2019 Charlie Bears catalog)

Aesop's Fables, The Ant and the Grasshopper

This hard working Ant doesn't waste all his days dancing and singing his days away and refusing to help his tired friend Ant gather food. When Winter comes, this hungry Grasshopper, begs for food for the efficient Ant, who refuses to share on the grounds of "when I was tired and asked for you help - you said "no" !".

Dunk (page 12 in the 2019 Charlie Bears catalog)

St Nicholas Tale (and 1875 folk tale), The Gingerbread Man

 "Run, run as fast as you can - you can't catch me - I'm the Gingerbread Man!"..we all know how this story ends.

Kisses (page 13 in the 2019 Charlie Bears catalog)

The Grimm Brothers, The Frog Prince

A spoiled Princess reluctantly befriends an ugly frog who helped her find her precious golden ball from a pond. As the Frog is really a Prince, when the Frog persuade the Princess to kiss him - the curse from his past disappears - a love story!

Quote of the Day - "Success is not final, failure is not fatal:  it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill

Merrythought Edward Bear Is Here!

We are pleased to announce that our first shipment of Merrythought Bears, handmade in England since 1930, have arrived in time for holiday ordering.

All of the bears are amazing, old fashioned chaps but one of the bears named Edward, Christopher Robin's Teddy Bear, really sticks out.

According to Merrythought:
"Edward is a simply beautiful replica of the teddy bear who famously inspired AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh stories.  Originally created by Farnell in 1921, this special bear is brought to life again by Merrythought as the star of major film feature 'Goodbye Christopher Robin'.

Purchased from Harrods by Daphne Milne for the birthday of her son, Christopher Robin, Edeard bear and his owner formed a unique bond and became the best of friends.  Christopher's father, AA Milne, was enamored by the wonderful partnership he witnessed between a boy and his teddy bear, and decided to pen stories about their journey through life together.

Merrythought's Edward bear has been traditionally crafted in England from the finest mohair (Angora goat fleece) and wool felt, and features a friendly hand-embroidered nose and smile.  With such unique character and charm, he is a true friend for life. . . "

Edward comes in two sizes - 18 inches and 11 inches.

Beacon's Glow Collectibles is proud to be one of the first Merrythought retailers in the US. 

Quote of the Day - "The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today." - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Clemens Bears from Germany Are Here!

We are very pleased to announce that we recently received in our first shipment of Clemens Bears.  These bears and little critters are handmade in Germany and are of a very high quality.

Please take a peek at Clemens Bears Press Release to learn about more about this amazing 68 year old company.

And if you see a bear that you are interested in and he is out of stock, please do not worry as we have more bears on backorder that should be arriving in the next month or so.

Quote of the Day - "He knows the water best who has waded through it." - Danish Proverb

Charlie Bears Closing for Summer Break

It is quite refreshing to know that some companies still take the time and initiative to give all employees a summer break.  That is the case with Charlie Bears in the UK.  The Bearhouse (as they call it) will close from June 19 - July 6.

We will be receiving in one more shipment before that time and we expect many more collectible bears and critters to ship towards the end of July and well into the August time frame.

These are the bears that will be arriving next week before the summer shutdown:

Befuddle CB151556
Charlotte CB151507
Chutchy Face CB159045S
Ian CB151570
Kenzie CB151571
Knole BB153046A
Raglan BB153040A
Rainbow CB159047S
Secrets CB159099S
Terry CB151579

Please stay tuned!

Quote of the Day - "Knowledge is the treasure but judgement is the treasurer of a wise man." - William Penn

Huge Disappointment in Boyd's by Enesco

This morning we received an email from Enesco (current distributor of Boyd's Bears) informing us that more than 75% of our backorders were being cancelled.  We were shocked and extremely disappointed, once again, in how unprofessional Enesco has handled this situation.

As hopefully most of you know, Boyd's Bears is closing their doors at the end of 2014.

There are currently 18 items that we have on backorder (and that are supposed to be delivered in the next several weeks).

This news has greatly disappointed several loyal Boyd's collectors and we can certainly see why.  We had no idea that this cancellation was going to take place and it was handled poorly.

But, on a more positive note, many of our loyal Boyd's customers over the years are switching to either Bearington Bears or Steiff Bears.

We are sorry to say that once our stock of Boyd's is sold, they can never be reordered again.

Quote of the Day - "Character is like a tree and reputation is like its shadow.  The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." - Abraham Lincoln

How to Identify your Teddy Bear

Steiff "Button in Ear" Tags

Not sure whether or not you might have a Steiff Bear?  (Steiff Bears, in my opinion, are currently one of the few collectibles that either holds or increases in value).  Auction sites sell older Steiff teddy bears for values in great excess from their original prices.

To identify whether or not you might have a Steiff, take a look at the following 3 things:

1.  Chest Tag
2.  Button In Ear
3.  Ear Tag

A bit about each of the previously mentioned items:

1.  Chest Tags - Steiff chest tags are made of paper and are always circular in shape.  Unfortunately, this is the first item on a Steiff item that is lost or misplaced.  The chest tags on both these teddy bears and animals have changed often over the years.

2.  Button in Ear - this is considered the most famous of the Steiff animal identifiers, and they have also changed dramatically over the years.  (Your teddy bear or animal might have a visible hole in his right ear which could signify that he is in fact, a Steiff).  Steiff occasionally uses an old-fashioned button in ear on one of their replica pieces.

Taken from an excellent article on hubpages.com here is their listing of various button types over the years.

Years in Use	Description	Button Size
1904/1905	Silver toned button with elephant	6mm
1904/1905	Blank button	6mm
1908 - 1927	Nickel and Iron button with word Steiff on it	4mm
1925 - 1934/35	Iron and nickel plated button with word Steiff	8mm
1933/34 - 1943	Brass button with word Steiff	6mm
1948 - 1950	Grey-blue Lacquered Blank Button	7mm
1948 - 1950	Blank Nickel Button	5mm
1950 - 1952	Button with word Steiff	6mm
1952/53	Nickel Button with Steiff in Script	5mm
1960 - 1972	Nickel Button with Steiff in Script	5mm
1967 - 1977	Nickel Button in Form of Hollow Rivet with word Steiff in Script
1969 - 1977	Nickel Button with Small Steiff Lettering, inset instead of raised	5mm
1977 - 1982	Brass Button with Steiff in Script, Recessed Letters	8mm
1982 - 1999	Brass Button with Steiff in Script, Slightly Rounded	8mm
2000 - Present	Same as above but with more modern rivet fixture on the back	9mm
2004	Replica Pieces have a special gold-plated button with original elephant design

3.  Ear Tag - This is the actual tag attached to the button in ear which distinguishes each and every Steiff teddy bear or animal.  An EAN (European Article Number) is contained on each tag.  This numbering system has been used exclusively by Steiff since 1905.  Incidentally, limited edition tags (North American Exclusives, Worldwide Limited Editions, and Replicas) include the edition number the the total size of the limited edition itself.

Quote of the Day - "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." - Napoleon Hill

Charlie of Charlie Bears is Back! :)

We are looking forward to seeing both Charlie and Will  Morris (founders of Charlie Bears) this Thursday, July 24th on QVC UK.  The show will start at 8:00 AM Central Standard Time (CST).

It is our understanding that this will be the first time since her illness that Charlotte Morris has appeared together with her husband on the QVC shopping network. They are always such a joy to watch.  And the UK QVC hosts animate the bears a bit which is a pleasant change from watching QVC here in the US.

We expect that they will both be introducing many of their 2014 Plush Bears but hope that they will also showcase some of their mohair and alpaca bears from 2013 that have not shipped at this writing.  Still patiently waiting for both Aphrodite and Cupid.  There is no doubt in our mind that these two alpaca collectible bears will be absolutely stunning in real life.

We would highly recommend tuning in to see this adorable couple this Thursday on QVC UK!

Quote of the Day - "Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you." - Walt Whitman

A Blast From the Past - How Things Have Changed!

Chloe - Dolls by Pauline

Was in the process of cleaning out some extraneous computer files, and came across a News Release way back from November 2004.  At that time, Beacon's Glow Collectibles carried 12 unique lines of collectible dolls and teddy bears with 800 different products.

So, do any of these lines from the past ring a bell?

• Jan McLean Dolls
• Ginny Dolls by Vogue
• Precious Moments Dolls
• Linda Rick Dolls
• Susan Wakeen Dolls (very popular at that time)
• Doll by Pauline (our best selling line back in 2004)
• Annette Funicello Bears
• Ganz Cottage Collectibles
• Lang Primitive Candles

There is a story to be told as to why we stopped carrying each of these lines.  Many of these manufacturers are non-existent at this time unfortunately.  (We did read the other day that Lang is bringing back their candles which is good news). They discontinued carrying candles many years ago. But the main reason that we stopped carrying them was that it was difficult to successfully ship candles in the summer months.  They melted before they left Texas.

Anyway, we hope that you still have some of these wonderful dolls or teddy bears from the past in your collections.

Currently we carry 19 different lines and have more than 3000 different items to offer consumers.  Times sure have changed in 10 years!

Quote of the Day - "Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible." - Dalai Lama

Your Mohair Teddy Bear - So What Exactly is Mohair?

An Adorable Pair of Charlie Bear Mohair Kitty Cats

A lot of people do not realize that the mohair that their teddy bear is made from comes from the fleece of the Angora mohair goat.  Angora goats are shorn in the same way that sheep are shorn for their wool.

So where did Angora goats originate from?  Angora goats took their name from the ancient Turkish city of Ankara, which was very close to where they originated. The Turks thought so highly of these special goats that none left the country until the sixteenth century. The first exports landed in Spain and France, but Angoras didn't reach American shores until 1849. The most valuable characteristic of the Angora, as compared to other goats is the value of the mohair that is clipped. The average goat in the U.S. shears approximately 5.3 pounds of mohair per shearing and are usually sheared twice a year – once in the spring and once again in the early fall.

The United States has developed into one of the two largest producing nations of mohair in the world with an annual production in excess of 2.4 million pounds. This was all due to the initial importation of a small flock of seven does and two bucks in 1849.  The other two principal sources of mohair are South Africa and Turkey. Texas, with a herd of 220,000 goats is the primary mohair region of the United States. The main region is on Edwards Plateau in Southwest Texas, where the mild dry climate and hilly, brushy terrain are particularly well suited for raising Angora goats due to their dry mountain origin.  (The town that is well-known for their mohair production is San Angelo, Texas).  In fact, if you would like to read more, the "Mohair Council of America" located in San Angelo has additional information to read.It is a well-known fact that Angora goats produce the best mohair in hot areas with low rainfall, which explains why Texas is well-suited for raising Angora goats. 

Mohair fleece has always been the superior fabric for making teddy bears. There are many reasons for this:  1) mohair has an incredible luster to it, and dyed mohair resists fading caused by time and the elements and is very hard wearing; 2) mohair is almost non-flammable; 3) mohair is considered the most durable animal fiber; 4) the natural fibers from mohair have the ability to absorb and release atmospheric moisture; 5) mohair is characteristically resistant to soiling; and 6) mohair possesses great tensile strength.  Diameter to diameter it is stronger than steel!

All in all, collectible teddy bears made from mohair tend to cost more than bears made from plush and they also tend to hold their value as well.  

Quote of the Day - "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost

Introducing Silver Tag Bears from the UK

We are now carrying Silver Tag Bears by Suki, a UK company.  Do you recall the teddy bear manufacturer, Russ Berrie?  These were very popular collectible teddy bears in the past but it appears that this company could not survive the Great Recession.

A company named Suki Gifts International, based in Hampshire, United Kingdom, bought out this company and is now producing a new line of collectible bears named Silver Tag Bears.

Already very popular in both Europe and Australia, we were very fortunate to be the first US retailer of these adorable teddy bears.

Each teddie is exclusively designed in the UK and has the classic bear hump on its back.  Each is fully jointed and is given a nice weight by adding beans.

So far there have been two Collections of Silver Tag Bears released and a third is planned to be debuted in September 2014.  Each of these collections consists of 6 teddybears that is limited to 1500 pieces per each bear.

Additionally, each teddy is made from a multi-tonal plush fabric and comes with their own carrying box and logo tissue paper.  And each is reasonably priced.

Please check out these new bears if you get the opportunity.  We expect that they will gain in popularity just as Charlie Bears from the UK did.

Quote of the Day - "Play for more than you can afford to lose and you will learn the game". - Winston Churchill

How Do I Find Out What My Collectible Teddy Bear or Doll is Worth?

This question is asked of us on at least a weekly basis.  So, where would one begin to find the value of a collectible doll or teddy bear?

There are lots of books written out there that will tell you the approximate value of an item, but keep in mind that these are not updated on a regular basis.  And also please keep in mind that these are estimates and the collectible market is constantly changing in regards to what is popular at the time.  One truly cannot value their collection at X amount of dollars as that is an estimate and sometimes the value will change dramatically when you actually go to sell your collection.

Some books that we recommend checking are:

Boyd's Bears - 

Boyd's Tracker, 2nd edition, 2004
The Boyds Collection Collector's Value Guide 2001

(Unfortunately, no recent Boyd's value books have been published.)

Madame Alexander Dolls - 

There are several Madame Alexander Doll price guides available for purchase.  The latest guide we found was published in 2009.

Steiff Bears - 

Many Steiff price guides can also be found but the latest guide we found in publication was from 2003.

Department 56 Villages and Snowbabies by Department 56 - 

Several guides were available for both Department 56 Villages as well as Snowbabies by Dept 56. We were very pleased to find that a recent guide from 2010 was available.

Charlie Bears - 

Since Charlie Bears is a relatively new company (founded in 2005) there is no value guide available at this time but the founders of Charlie Bears, Charlotte and William Morris, have written a book.  Titled "Love, Dreams and Bears", this book chronicles the first 5 years of the company and contains all teddy bears created in the first five years.

In addition, once in a while, you can find some beneficial information written by sellers on eBay who are avid collectors themselves.


Another excellent way to determine what your collectible is worth is to write in to either "Teddy Bear and Friends" magazine or "DOLLS" magazine.

In the past, Ken Yenke, teddy bear historian, museum curater, and appraiser asked collectors to send him photos and descriptions to him in care of Teddy Bear and Friends magazine.  Unfortunately, we were saddened to find that Ken recently passed away so we would assume that teddy bear appraisals will be unavailable for quite some time.  That is, until a replacement is found to try and fill his shoes.

For DOLLS magazine, collectors can send in their questions regarding doll identification and a current appraisal to:  Curious Collector, c/o DOLLS, PO Box 5000, Iola, WI 54945.  Photos should be included for each vintage and modern doll query.

Hope that you find this information helpful, and good luck with finding the information you desire!

Quote of the Day - "Imagination is more important than knowledge". - Albert Einstein

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!! Here is hoping that 2014 proves to be a great year for everyone. . .

We are excited to start ordering new 2014 inventory.  There looks to be some great bears from Boyd's Bears, magnificent dolls from Heidi Plusczok, and more wonderful bears from Steiff.  Well, these are the only manufacturers from whom we have gotten a sneak peek from so far.

Please stay tuned. . . . we will provide more information as it becomes available.

Quote of the Day - "The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it." - Marcus Aurelius

A Highly Recommended Teddy Bear Appraiser

We here at Beacon's Glow Collectibles subscribes to the Bears and Buds Webzine which concentrates solely on the teddy bear industry.  There are many excellent articles and Bears and Buds showcases new teddy bear artists as well as promoting teddy bear shows.  Additionally, they host the annual URSA Competition and award teddy bear and soft sculpture artists from around the world.  Winners are decided upon by popular vote from site visitors, collectors and readers.  (Incidentally, URSA is a constellation of stars called "The Big Bear".)

Anyway, we were reading the Bears and Buds Webzine over the weekend and came across this excellent article on Ken Yenke who is an established teddy bear appraiser - http://www.bearsandbuds.com/KenYenke-Articles/KenYenkeIdentifiesTeddyBearsinBearsandBudsTeddyBearMagazine.asp.  (Examples of some of Ken's teddy bear appraisals are listed in the above link).

Valerie Rogers, Publisher and Executive Editor of Brightstar Promotions (as well as the Bears and Buds website) loves to post Ken's teddy bear appraisals each month on their website. And she was so kind as to allow us to post the above-mentioned link and information about Ken and his teddy bear appraisals.

 Over the years, we have gotten numerous requests from teddy bear collectors wanting to know more about their treasured (and oftentimes heirloom) teddy bears but did not know where to refer them to.

We are excited to announce the appraisal services of Ken Yenke.  Ken charges a nominal fee of $10.00 per bear and requests that a photo and all of the known information be emailed to him.  (He accepts many forms of payment to include even PayPal).

Ken will appraise your bear, tell you it's history and additionally its value via your email. 

As noted on the Bears and Buds website, they would like to publish your bear's photo and its appraisal in coming issues.  (They of course, do not proceed unless given your permission).

This is a perfect way to find out more about your teddy bear!  We are so excited to be able to pass this newfound information on to our collectors.  And we will not hesitate in the future to refer customers to Ken for his thorough teddy bear appraisals.

Fun Halloween Stats According to the US Census Bureau

We came across an article all about Halloween and some facts from the US Census Bureau that you might find interesting:

1.  In 2011, it was estimated that the number of trick-or-treaters aged 5 to 14 was 41 million.  (This does not include those trick-or-treaters younger than 5 or older than 14 by the way).
2.  In 2011 it was estimated by the US Census Bureau that that were 115 million housing units in the US (which were all potential stops for trick-or-treaters).
3.  The highest producing pumpkin states were Illinois, California, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan and the value of all of these pumpkins were estimated at $113 million.
4.  In 2010, there were 1155 manufacturing facilities that produced chocolate and cocoa products. Pennsylvania in the leading chocolate producer with 102 facilities, followed by California with 100 chocolate-producing facilities.
5.  For non-chocolate factories, there were 409 of them in 2010 with California leading the pack with 49 manufacturing facilities.

Our customers here at Beacon's Glow Collectibles have told us that Halloween is their second favorite holiday for displaying theme-specific dolls and teddy bears.  (Christmas is, of course, the first preferred holiday for displaying their holiday collectibles dolls, figurines, and teddy bears. . . )

Quote of the Day - "If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes." - St. Clement of Alexandra

2012 Part 2 Plush Charlie Bears Are In

We were very pleased to receive in 7 brand-new plush Charlie Bears from their 2012 Part 2 Collection.  It looks like they are getting their production issues from the flooding last year under control now, so hopefully, the mohair teddy bears from this collection will be arriving in the very near future.

The names of the 7 new plush teddy bears are as follows:

1.  Firework
2.  Inca
3.  Lawrence
4.  Milly
5.  Mischief
6.  Savoury Pudding (our personal favorite)
7.  Victoria

For the most part, these teddybears are very colorful and several have the magnetic paws which allows their arms to be posed in many ways. 

Thank you for your continued interest!

Quote of the Day - "The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions—the little soon-forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment in the disguise of a playful raillery, and the countless other infinitessimals of pleasurable thought and genial feeling."- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Boyd's Bears 2012 Bailey and Friends Collection

Yesterday we received in the 2012 Bailey and Friends Collection by Boyd's Bears.  This year's theme features a back to school theme.

Rumour has it that the original founder of Boyd's, G.M. Lowenthal, created Bailey and Friends which consisted of Bailey, Matthew and Emily.  All three of these names were named after his own children.

To this day, Boyd's Bear collectors must add each teddy bear from the Bailey and Friends Collection.

Please do not hesitate to pick this up if you are interested as they tend to sell out rather quickly.

Quote of the Day - "The question for each man to settle is not what he would do if he had means, time, influence and educational advantages; the question is what he will do with the things he has. The moment a young man ceases to dream or to bemoan his lack of opportunities and resolutely looks his conditions in the face, and resolves to change them, he lays the corner-stone of a solid and honorable success." - Hamilton Wright Mabie

Collectible Teddy Bears and Their Growlers

Have you ever noticed that some Steiff Bears have a growler?  That magnificent growling sound that is emitted when a collectible teddy bear is turned just the right way?

We were curious as to the history and inner workings of growlers, and decided to do some research.

Prior to 1908, growlers were called punch growlers that were made of an oilcloth bag with a reed inside. When the growler was pressed, a rush of air made the reed vibrate and cause the noise.

After 1908, modified growlers were introduced and they were called tilt growlers.  A lead weight enclosed in a cardtube tube opened or closed opened the bellows when the teddy bear was tilted.  Therefore, this forced air over the reed and created the growling sound. 

Before tilt growlers squeakers were also used but most usually on smaller teddy bears.  Incidentally, squeakers also use an internal reed.

Currently both growlers and squeakers can be purchased rather inexpensively by hobbyists to include in their bear creations.  But we suspect that Steiff Bears only inserts top-of-the-line growlers in their incredible limited edition collectible teddybears.

Quote of the Day - "How much pain have cost us the evils that have never happened." - Thomas Jefferson

A Classic Steiff Bear - Sunny Teddy Bear EAN 035746

2012 has been a great year for Steiff Bears!  They have introduced one incredible teddy bear after another.  Sunny Teddy Bear (EAN 035746) should definitely be included in this group.  He is a massive bear at 24 inches tall and has a deep growler.  Funny as he was growling from within his very large box as we were carrying him in after being delivered by Federal Express.

He is an old-fashioned teddy bear created from a cream yellow Schulte mohair that is a long pile and just a little bit curly, which adds to his endearing charm.  Sunny has the distinct honot of being the largest teddybear in this year's Steiff Worldwide Limited Edition Collection. 

Just to tell you a bit more about Sunny - he was designed after a mid-1920's Steiff teddy bear and he has a distinctive big round head, short muzzle, and dark brown pupil eyes.  (We have been told that this adds to his adorable childlike expression).

But nonetheless, this extra large Teddy is sure to steal your heart.  A perfect addition to any Steiff collection. . .

Quote of the Day - "A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship; and he who plants kindness gathers love." - Basil

Bearington Bears are Back!

Just to let you know that we decided to continue carrying Bearington Bears. You talked, we listened. :) We received several calls and emails from customers who were a bit disappointed that we were considering discontinuing this line of teddy bears.

Today we received in the 2011 Bearington Bear Fall and Holiday Collection. We currently have all of the Fall and Halloween pieces on the site and hope to have the Christmas and Winter pieces on the site and available to order shortly.

Thank you for your continued support!

Quote of the Day - "Inspiration follows aspiration". - Rabindranath Tagore