A Timeless Christmas Gift

At Christmas, children around the world look forward to receiving gifts from Santa Claus. One enduring toy that has remained a cherished present for both children and adults is the teddy bear. This soft companion has become a fixture in many homes during the festive season.

The teddy bear traces its roots to the realm of politics, gaining popularity through an incident involving President Theodore Roosevelt in the early 20th century. In November 1902, President Roosevelt embarked on a hunting expedition in Mississippi. Although he was unsuccessful in hunting larger game, his aides discovered and captured a small black bear. This bear was presented to the President with the intention of being shot as a trophy. However, Roosevelt chose not to harm the creature, and the tale of his compassion towards the bear quickly circulated throughout the country.

Soon after the cartoonist Clifford K. Berryman, illustrated a cartoon for The Washington Post showing President Roosevelt refusing to shoot the bear. The cartoon attracted the attention of Morris Michtom, the proprietor of a small novelty shop in Brooklyn, New York. Michtom's shop, where the first teddy bear was conceived and showcased. The business has since been rebranded as Ideal Novelty and Toy Co. and continues to operate today, producing a variety of toys and games. Inspired by the cartoon, Michtom decided to craft a stuffed bear, which he named "Teddy's bear. " He exhibited his new friend in his shop window with a sign that read "Teddy's bear." The bear quickly became a phenomenon, and Michtom began receiving numerous requests from customers eager to buy the cuddly toy.

Then Michtom reached out to President Roosevelt, requesting his authorization to utilize his name for the teddy bear. The President consented, and Michtom's bears quickly became a sensation, retailing at $1.50 each. Concurrently, another toy manufacturer named Richard Steiff in Germany had also developed a stuffed bear, which piqued the interest of American toy consumers. Steiff's bears were crafted from mohair, featured jointed limbs, and had glass eyes, rendering them more costly and opulent compared to those produced by Michtom. Nevertheless, it was Michtom's bear that secured its position in history as the first commercially available teddy bear.