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David Harcourt
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 04:21 am |
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Here's one of them. It is a Steiff (Germany) mohair bear: a GOLF PLAYER.
It has its original label, which reads:
"MADE IN GERMANY BY STEIFF KNOPF IM OHR LIMITED EDITION OF 3000 PIECES GOLFSPIELER 670671 2001"
This bear is from a limited edition of 3000. This is #2550 in the edition.
The GOLF PLAYER is 33cms (13.5") tall and in very good condition.
It is in this auction:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Toys-models/Bears/Collectable/auction-63340406.htm
Attached Image (viewed 1061 times):
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fairness
Member
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 04:24 am |
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| Aww...he's lovely, but I'm a bit worried that "Sam" would get jealous...
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David Harcourt
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 04:27 am |
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And another one. This is a limited edition Steiff mohair bear named "BARLE".
According to the box, it is a "true replica of the oldest teddy bear of the Steiff archives". It has its original label, which reads "MADE IN GERMANY STEIFF KNOPF IM OHR 404108" and "LIMITED EDITION OF 6000 PIECES 01407 0150/50"
This is #1407 in the edition of 6000. It is 51cms (19.5") tall and in superb condition, with the mohair fully intact.
From Wikipedia:
"German toymaker Margarete Steiff (1847-1909), born in Giengen, started creating toy stuffed animals in 1880 in the town of Giengen an der Brenz, Germany. Margarete was a seamstress and confined to a wheelchair, due to polio she contracted as a baby, she started making stuffed animals as a hobby. These toys began as elephants, which were originally a design Steiff found in a magazine and originally sold as pincushions to her friends. However, children began playing with them, and in the years following she went on to design many other successful animal-themed toys for children, such as dogs, cats and pigs. She designed and made most of the prototypes herself. In 1902, her nephew Richard Steiff designed their renowned teddy bear, which many people believe was one of the first. Today, the Steiff name is still well-known for quality but extremely expensive toys."
You can get more information about Steiff at its website, The World of Steiff:
http://shop.steiff.de/cgi-bin/steiffde.storefront/en/searchmask
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David Harcourt
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 04:27 am |
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This is a Steiff bear, GROOM.
It has its original label, which reads:
"STEIFF KNOPF IM OHR 0271/28"
and
"ALL NEW MATERIAL PA55MA5573 COVERING 50% WOOL 50% COTTON MADE IN WESTERN GERMANY"
This bear is 28cms (11") tall and in very good condition.
It is in this auction:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Toys-models/Bears/Collectable/auction-63341738.htm
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ladeda
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| Posts: | 46 |
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 04:28 am |
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*rushes off to http://www.dictionary.com to confirm what I guessed arctophiles must mean*
Beautiful teddies. 
Last edited on 15 Jul 2006 04:29 am by ladeda
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David Harcourt
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 04:28 am |
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Here are two Steiff (Germany) mohair bears in a boxed set.
They are Romeo & Juliet, and were sold in a limited edition of 2000 by the London store Harrods.
This pair of bears is number 495 in the edition.
They are being offered for sale with their original Certificate of Authenticity and in their original musical box. (The box plays Lionel Ritchie's tune "Endless Love".)
These bears are 22cms (9") tall. They are in this auction:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Toys-models/Bears/Collectable/auction-63347892.htm
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David Harcourt
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 04:30 am |
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Those are all Steiff bears (and there's another, but I've lost the photo).
This is a limited edition Cotswold bear, made of mohair and suede leather. His name is TRUFFLE.
I have the original Certificate of Authenticity. This is #23 in an edition of 100.
TRUFFLE is 29cms (11") tall and in very good condition.
The original retail price was 112 (NZ$331)!
From the Cotswold Bear company's website:
"For the last decade bears designed by the Cotswold Bear duo, Sarah Bird and Alex Longhi have enchanted bear collectors all over the world. The Cotswold Bear Co. now stands as one of the most respected institutions for creating and manufacturing artist designed teddy bears. Over the years the design work of the Cotswold Bear team has won prestigious bear making awards both in the UK and overseas. Unlike other large manufacturers, they produce extremely small limited editions of only 100. Believing that by manufacturing only an exclusive number ensures high collectability, and producing small numbers of each design allows them to be personally hand finished and to check quality control on each bear. Using only the finest materials to produce the highest quality bears. Every bear is made from either superior German mohair (spun from goat wool) or alpaca (spun from Llama wool). Using either Italian ultra suede or German felt for foot and hand pads, and unlike much of the industry use hardboard joints with locking nuts instead of cheaper plastic joints. Also instead of the widely used plastic eyes, they use handmade British glass eyes. Continuing the use of traditional methods of manufacture, they are made in much the same way that bears were originally made in the victorian era. For example, not believing in using stuffing machines, all bear limbs are stuffed by hand, and all nose embroidery and eye placement is also hand done. This all combines to create beautiful bears born out of traditional skills and top workmanship."
TRUFFLE is in superb condition, with the mohair fully intact.
This is the link to the auction:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Toys-models/Bears/Collectable/auction-63346311.htm
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David Harcourt
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 04:31 am |
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The bears I've shown you so far are mohair bears.
This (below) is a limited edition plush bear from Russ Berrie (UK). Its name is HANLEY.
It has its original Certificate of Authenticity. This is #320 in an edition of 5000.
This is a very BIG bear: it is 54cms (21.5") tall.
It is in very good condition.
It is in this auction:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Toys-models/Bears/Collectable/auction-63348824.htm
You can see all of these bears (and the missing bear, who should be back from the picnic by now) by looking for my auctions under "davidharcourt", and looking at the latest Gallery listings there:
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David Harcourt
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 04:46 am |
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Some facts about teddy bears.
* There are about 40 teddy bears in my house, but only two have names (apart from "bear").
* Only three people here actually own these bears. I don't have one. *sob* (I will post photographs of the favourite bears on Monday. The bears in this thread turned up most unexpectedly in my store today. Had I known they were coming the Harcourt/Armstrong household's bears could have provided a welcoming party.)
* Several of my friends have their bears from childhood. (Yes, Tracey, these people are as old as I am, so this makes the survival of these bears near-miraculous.)
* The English actor Peter Bull (the German captain in The African Queen, the Russian Ambassador in Dr Strangelove, Mr Thwackum in Tony Richardson's Tom Jones etc etc) had a large collection of teddy bears and wrote a wonderful book about them called Bear With Me.
* There is a teddy bear museum. You can see its website at
http://www.theteddybearmuseum.com/teddy-facts.htm
Feel free to add teddy bear facts of your own, and pix of your own bears if you have them (pix, I mean, not bears; everyone has a bear. Except me...).
PS
I knew I had seven bears on trademe, but could find pix of only six when I was posting messages here earlier.
The last bear is this Steiff BROWN BEAR, which I had earlier described as a Russ Berrie bear.
It is 32cms (12") tall and in very good condition.
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ladeda
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 05:53 am |
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A bear, however hard he tries,
Grows tubby without exercise.
Our Teddy Bear is short and fat,
Which is not to be wondered at;
He gets what exercise he can
By falling off the ottoman,
But generally seems to lack
The energy to clamber back.
Now tubbiness is just the thing
Which gets a fellow wondering;
And Teddy worried lots about
The fact that he was rather stout.
He thought: "If only I were thin!
But how does anyone begin?"
He thought: "It really isn't fair
To grudge me exercise and air."
For many weeks he pressed in vain
His nose against the window-pane,
And envied those who walked about
Reducing their unwanted stout.
None of the people he could see
"Is quite" (he said) "as fat as me!"
Then, with a still more moving sigh,
"I mean" (he said) "as fat as I!"
Now Teddy, as was only right,
Slept in the ottoman at night,
And with him crowded in as well
More animals than I can tell;
Not only these, but books and things,
Such as a kind relation brings -
Old tales of "Once upon a time,"
And history retold in rhyme.
One night it happened that he took
A peep at an old picture book,
Wherein he came across by chance
The picture of a King of France
(A stoutish man) and, down below,
These words: "King Louis So and So,
Nicknamed 'The Handsome'!" There he sat,
And (think of it!) the man was fat!
Our bear rejoiced like naything
To read about the famous King,
Nicknamed "The Handsome". There he sat,
Ans certainly the man was fat.
Nicknamed "The Handsome". Not a doubt
The man was definitely stout.
Why then, a bear (for all his tub)
Might yet be named "The Handsome Cub"!
"Might yet be named." Or did he mean
That years ago he "might have been"?
For now he felt a slight misgiving:
"Is Louis So and So still living?
Fashions in beauty have a way
Of altering from day to day.
Is 'Handsome Louis' with us yet?
Unfortunately I forget."
Next morning (nose to window-pane)
The doubt occurred to him again.
One question hammered in his head:
"Is alive or is he dead?"
Thus, nose to pane, he pondered; but
The lattice window, loosely shut,
Swng open. With one startled "Oh!"
Our Teddy disappeared below.
There happened to be passing by
A plump man with a twinkling eye,
Who, seeing Teddy in the street,
Raised him politely to his feet,
And murmured kindly in his ear
Soft words of comfort and of cheer:
"Well, well!" "Allowme!" "Not at all."
"Tut-tut! A very nasty fall."
Our Teddy answered not a word;
It's doubtful if he ever heard.
Our bear could only look and look:
The stout man in the picture book!
That "handsome" King - could this be he,
This man of adiposity?
"Impossible," he thought. "But still,
No harm in asking. Yes I will!"
"Are you," he said, "by chance
His Majesty the King of France?"
The other answered, "I am that,"
Bowed stiffly, and removed his hat;
Then said, "Excuse me," with and air,
"But is it Mr Edward Bear?"
And Teddy, bending very low,
Replied politely, "Even so!"
They stood beneath the window there,
The King and Mr Edward Bear,
And, handsome, if a trifle fat,
Talked carelessly of this and that . . .
Then said His Majesty, "Well, well,
I must get on," and rang the bell.
"Your bear, I think," he smiled. "Good-day!"
And turned, and went upon his way.
A bear, however hard he tries,
Grows tubby without exercise.
Our Teddy Bear is short and sfat,
Which is not to be wondered at.
But do you think it worries him
To know that he is far from slim?
No,just the other way about -
He's proud of being short and stout.
~*~
A. A. Milne
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fairness
Member
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 06:04 am |
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| Before and after pic of a distressed bear...but has a happy ending! Attached Image (viewed 937 times):
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fairness
Member
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 06:06 am |
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fairness wrote: Before and after pic of a distressed bear...but has a happy ending! Attached Image (viewed 924 times):
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yowie_power
Member
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 06:47 am |
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I've been an arctophile ever since I got my first bear at age 1.
One of my bears is a Steiff, who I got in Dunedin on New Year's Eve 1996. He's a very handsome fellow, a replica of a 1909 bear. He considers himself a "bearistocrat" in view of his pedigree. But he gets a little lonely because none of the other bears in the house (virtually all of whom have names) are of the same kind of stock. They are all, in his view, "commoners".
I wouldn't mind the brown bear as a companion to my Steiff bear (I think it's No. 3 of the 7), but bidding or using Buy It Now is a little problematic at the moment. 
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David Harcourt
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 07:04 am |
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yowie_power wrote: I've been an arctophile ever since I got my first bear at age 1.
But do you still have your first bear?
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David Harcourt
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 07:06 am |
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fairness wrote: fairness wrote: Before and after pic of a distressed bear...but has a happy ending!
I know the story, and you know the story, but does anyone else know the story?
Why not share the story?
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yowie_power
Member
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 07:22 am |
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David Harcourt wrote: yowie_power wrote: I've been an arctophile ever since I got my first bear at age 1.
But do you still have your first bear?
Yes I do, although he's rather worn out and decrepit. But he holds a special place in both my bear "hug" (a group of teddy bears is called a "hug") and my heart.
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fairness
Member
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 07:24 am |
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David Harcourt wrote: fairness wrote: fairness wrote: Before and after pic of a distressed bear...but has a happy ending!
I know the story, and you know the story, but does anyone else know the story?
Why not share the story?
It's a long story...but I have an extract from your auction.
This is an auction for a voodoo doll which has assumed the form of a small yellow bear named “Sam”.
Sam is 21cms (8½”) tall/long/high/whatever.
The previous owner received Sam through the mail from another trader. Full details may be found in a thread on the Trademe messageboards entitled “WHAT WOULD YOU MAKE OF THIS...” The following link will take you to that thread:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/messageboard/show_messages.asp?id=3484153&p=1&c=1
According to the previous owner, Sam is a voodoo doll. When I asked whether she knew this because he has “Made in Haiti” on him she replied “RTFT”. I’m not sure what this means, and I’m not sure why she continues to believe he has voodoo powers. The only thing mysterious which I have noticed about Sam is that after I'd taken the first photograph I moved him to get a photo from a different angle and found that he had SOILED MY BACKDROP. In the third photograph you can see evidence of a small indiscretion which he is looking at non-committally, as if to say "What has this beardoll wee got to do with me?"
As I say, that's the only evidence of supernatural powers that I have yet been able to detect.
That and the fact that Sam's eyes tend to follow you around the room, and everyone who looks upon him is cursed forever.
Sam has the words "MERRY MILD MIGHTY MAJESTIC" on his back, a green slash across his eyes, and a green cross on his chest which runs down to his crotch.
He has a staple between his nose and mouth. I have been tempted to remove this, but I’m afraid of what might fall out if I do.
The previous owner has claimed that Sam smells. This is a vicious lie. Sam is completely odour-free. It is possible that something strong-smelling has become lodged under the previous owner’s nose. (An inadequately-washed moustache, perhaps.)
Please feel free to ask questions. They are however unlikely to be answered. I know nothing about voodoo dolls.
The cost of shipping is $3.95.
Payment within seven (7) days, please.
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fairness
Member
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 07:28 am |
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I still have the Q & A which I could paste here...
but sadly not the original thread that started the whole thing.
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David Harcourt
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 07:50 am |
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yowie_power wrote: David Harcourt wrote: yowie_power wrote: I've been an arctophile ever since I got my first bear at age 1.
But do you still have your first bear?
Yes I do, although he's rather worn out and decrepit. But he holds a special place in both my bear "hug" (a group of teddy bears is called a "hug") and my heart.
I'm impressed.
The condition doesn't matter.
That he survived is all that matters.
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David Harcourt
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Posted: 15 Jul 2006 07:54 am |
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fairness wrote:
It's a long story...but I have an extract from your auction.
This is an auction for a voodoo doll which has assumed the form of a small yellow bear named “Sam”...
Sam's previous owner, of course, was Tracey MacKenzie [aged 5].
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