A Bit About Tatty Teddy from the UK

Had heard about Tatty Teddy from the UK quite some time ago as a very sweet UK customer of ours does Tatty Teddy cross-stitch kits.  So I decided to research the background behind this cute little character from England.

Created initially in 1987 by English cartoonist and illustrator Michael Payne, these adorable little teddy bears with the classic blue noses went into production by the Carte Blanche Greetings Ltd Company.  (These Tatty Teddy bears are also known to some as Me to You Bears).

Mr. Payne recently left  his position as Tatty Teddy illustrator at Carte Blanche Greetings.  He is know drawn by a team of three very talented artists:  Steve Mort-Hill, Ceri Lewis, and Tom Barnfield.

In 2001 the US company, Douglas Company, received the rights and license to sell the brand in the US and Canada.

Currently the Tatty Teddy line includes plush toys, figurines, cards, coffee mugs, wedding accessories, and cross stitch kits as mentioned previously.

Tatty Teddys have quite a worldwide following and there exists annual Tatty Teddy national collectors events.  On occasion there have been produced several special and limited edition bears which in turn enhances the collectible nature of these teddybears.

In 2008, Carte Blanche Greetings introduced an additional line called "My Blue Nose Friends" which consisted of other animals created in the same style of Tatty Teddy.  Their plush is a different color than the traditional grey of Tatty Teddy but each one has the dark eyes in close proximity to each other, and the classic light blue nose.

It is very understandable why these adorable little teddy bears are popular in the UK.  So now whenever you see a little grey bear with blue nose you can identify him as a "Tatty Teddy" who originated in England!

Quote of the Day - "The palest ink is better than the best memory." - Chinese Proverb

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

It's Official - 2012 TOBY Public Choice Awards Announced

If you have not received your latest Teddy Bear & Friends issue (December 2012), we will share with you the winners of this year's TOBY (Teddy of the Year) Public Choice Award winners.

The "Best in Show" and in the Large Artist bear, Dressed was "The Benevolent Benjamin" by Bev White.

Our favorite was the winner of the Manufactured "Friend" "Snoopy Flying Ace" EAN 682070 by Steiff Bears.

Miniature Artist Bear
• Pudding – Katherine Hallam
Small Artist Bear, Dressed 
• Oatman – Joanne Livingston

Small Artist Bear, Undressed
• Alpine – Joanne Livingston
Large Artist Bear, Dressed
• The Benevolent Benjamin – Bev White (BEST IN SHOW)
Large Artist Bear, Undressed
• Bruno – Heike Buchner
Artist Set or Vignette
• What Can I Do? – Byunghwa Ahn
Small Artist “Friends”
• Finery and Finesse – Shelly Allison

Large Artist “Friends”
• Azizi – Krista Griffiths
Artist Creation, Nontraditional Materials
• Three Blind Mice – Stevi T.

Manufactured Bear
• Animalcraft Standing Black Bear – Demdaco Plush
Manufactured “Friends”
• Snoopy Flying Ace – Steiff

Congratulations to All!

Quote of the Day - "The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen." - Frank Loyd Wright

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

Update on Charlie Bears Isabelle Collection for 2011

We here at Beacon's Glow Collectibles got the opportunity to chat with Lucy, sister of Charlie Bears creator, yesterday about why there was the long delay in receiving in our shipment of Mohair Limited Edition bears that were ordered last August. (As you know, many of you are patiently waiting for their arrival. . . )

Anyway, because Charlie Bears are handmade in the Phillipines, production was abruptly halted because of the horrific and disasterous flooding late last year. (It is important to note that Charlie Bears donated a substantial amount of monetary aid to the Phillipines for food and medical aid).

Lucy had mentioned that we should start to expect seeing these adorable Charlie Bears arrive in 4 to 6 weeks. That would put their arrival date sometime in February.

Thank you for your understanding and for your patience. We will contact each and every one of you who have asked for us to put to the side one or more of these special teddy bears when they finally arrive.

Quote of the Day - "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

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