In the first years of the twentieth century President Roosevelt was in Mississippi to settle a boundary dispute. While he was there he was taken bear hunting but the hunt proved disappointing as there were no bears to be found. However the participants eventually came across a small bear cub and encouraged the president to kill it. President Roosevelt declined, unwilling to shoot such a small, innocent creature. Clifford Berryman subsequently published a cartoon “Drawing the Line in Mississippi” depicting this incident.

The Washington Post published the cartoon in November of 1902 and it was taken up and published nationally and became quite famous.

President Roosevelt obviously loved the idea of a ‘teddy bear’ as he adopted one for his mascot during his campaign for re-election.

Teddy bears were made in range of materials and colors prior to the depression when manufacture slowed considerably. However they began to be popular again during the 1970′s and are one of the most popular toys made today.

They are often the first gift a baby receives and are given to children, teenagers and even adults as birthday, Xmas and Valentine gifts. Indeed a pink teddy bear is a hugely popular gift for girlfriends on Valentine’s day and teddy bears of all colors are given on many different occasions or just to say ‘I Love You’!

Teddy bears produced during the early years of the twentieth century are highly prized and sell at auction for very high prices. There is even a song about teddy bears ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ which was written by J.K.Bratton in 1907 and originally called The Teddy Bear Two Step.

See teddy bears and toys at Cheap Toys for Sale