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Building a Teddy Bear Library

One cannot have enough books on Teddy Bears.” This is a true and honest statement. Whether you research, collect, create, repair, or appraise, it is a definite “must” to have every book available on the market. You never know which one might contain that certain Teddy Bear you have been looking for, or information that no other author has found. Following, is a reference guide to Teddy Bear books on the market. If some of them are out of print, have a bookstore do a search, or look on the internet. Get them all - that’s an order!

Title: “A Collector’s History of the Teddy Bear”
Author: Patricia Schoonmaker
Publisher: Hobby House Press
Year Published: fifth printing, 1991
Description: One of the best books on antique Teddy Bears and related items. It contains many original ads and catalog pages from the early days of Teddy Bear history. It is a wealth of information.

Title: “ Teddy Bears Past and Present - A Collector’s
              Identification Guide”Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
Author: Linda Mullins
Publisher: Hobby House Press
Year Published: 1986 and 199
Description: Great books for identifying antique Teddy Bears. Lots of historical information, with many early advertisments and pictures. They are beautifully done books, and cover everything from antique Teddies, ephemera, and artist Bears. They are “must have” books for every library.

Title: “The Teddy Bear Encyclopedia”
Author: Pauline Cockrill
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Book
Year Published: 1993
Description: A super book for identifying Teddy Bears. It has almost every major Teddy Bear manufacturer covered, and they are listed by country and dates of manufacturing. It is great for identification tips and techniques. It also has a chronological history of the companies represented in the book. This book is a “must have” for the library.

Title: “Teddy Bear Encyclopedia” - German manufacturers
Author: Jürgen and Marianne Cieslik
Publisher: Gold Horse Publishing
Year Published: 1998
Description: A super book covering many little known German Teddy Bear and toy manufacturers. It covers dates, makers, and has super pictures of old catalogs, factory scenes, and examples of many early Bears. This book is essential for every researcher and collector.

Title: “Linda Mullins’ Teddy Bears & Friends - Identification and Price Guide”
Author: Linda Mullins
Publisher: Hobby House Press
Year Published: 2000
Description: This is an excellent price guide for Teddy Bear collectors. It features many incredible photos and over 1500 prices. It features many of the beautiful Bears in the Basel Museum in Switzerland, and much, much, more!

Title: “Steiff Bears and Other Playthings Past and Present”
Author: Dee Hockenberry
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
Year Published: 2000
Description: A beautiful, hardcover book with incredible photographs by Tom Hockenberry. It is the ultimate price guide for Steiff Teddies and animals from early pieces to many newly discontinued items. Every Teddy Bear and Steiff collector needs this book.

Title: “Button In Ear”
Author: Jürgen and Marianne Cieslik
Publisher: Marianne Cieslik Verlag
Year Published: 1989
Description: The ultimate book for Steiff and Teddy Bear collectors. It is an invaluable guide for identification and dating of Steiff pieces. Many photos showing items from the Steiff archives along with production numbers. Many Steiff collectors use this as their “wish book.”

Title: “Teddy Bears- A Complete Guide to History, Collecting, and Care”
Author: Sue Pearson and Dottie Ayers
Publisher: MacMillan Publishing
Year Published: 1995
Description: A beautifully photographed book with much research information on antique Teddy Bears, related objects, Teddy Bear repair, companies histories, Teddy Bear artists, and manufacturers. Many prices in the book are outdated, but the information is invaluable.

Title: “Collectible German Animals Value Guide, 1948 - 1968”
Author: Dee Hockenberry
Publisher: Hobby House Press
Year Published: 1989
Description: Price Guide covering Teddy Bears and animals from the firms of Steiff, Schuco, Hermann and miscellaneous German companies. Great for identification, even though prices reflect a decade ago.

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