In the research of the original teddy bear, it is so easy to began at the creation of the Roosevelt bear books in 1906. But it takes some one very dedicated to research before this time, as I have! I have found many items of interest that New York documented in the early days of 1904 to 1906 such as. Three-bears-Roosevelt-Teddies-7-Milk-Glass-Plate. circa 1904. A Black forest bear Bench circa 1905. And of corse, Teddy Roosevelt, Square Deal, Glass Plate, circa 1904. These pictures all have three bears in joyful moods. All connected to Theodore Roosevelt. All these bears have a full open mouth and a tongue! (NO TEETH) The pictures also refer to, before the Teddy Bear there were the Three Bear and Goldilocks. So the first few years of the American teddy bear, New York compared the teddy bear to the famous all time story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The original teddy bear was created with no teeth and we all know TEETH would scare children! Besides all the many Postcards of 1905 with the teddy bear drawn in cartoon like characters, Standing upright, having this wonderful smile about them. Including the dimples on their face to bring out there wonderful expression. I find that when ever early Theodore Roosevelt items come on Ebay for sale, these items with the bear having a mouth and a red tongue are in demand you have to compete for that items. There are a small but faith full group of people out there that collect these early items. Over all a hundred years ago people just didn't SMILE during their picture taking. But today I have a great smile for you. I bought this picture a few years back. My thoughts are, this is a Jewish girls proud to own her 1904, Michtom bear. Could this be on Delancy Street, Brooklyn. with the Brooklyn bridge in the background. Again I say New York had its way of documenting history. This is the second style bear Michtom created. 1905 San Francisco news papers say High society people of New York drive around in their automobiles with teddy bears. They are as tall as a grown child. They even take them into restaurants, demanding they be served. After the frenzy began in 1903 for his bears, Michtom had to downgrade the original teddy bears features, he no longer had a full open mouth that smiled, to keep up with the demand! so this second style bear was born in New York. This second style bear was also put on the cover of the PARADE OF THE TEDDY BEARS. New York had its way of Documentation!!! And now I can say this, I do know of only one of these original, second style bears existing in today's world. This old bear too belongs in the Smithsonian Institute!! He was made in America! P.S. The early Two Roosevelt Bears in the book had TEETH. And Yes the first two years of Michtom bears, These bears were the size of my bear and the Smithsonian bear, 24 inches tall to the size of a grown child of 42 inches tall. 1903 and 1904 Michtom bears!! I was told by an expert that these tall bears stood upright in stores holding bread in their arms!
