Jan 30, 2016 6 min read

Teddy bears have been popular toys since the first one was created in 1902, but the story about Teddy Roosevelt and the bear cub is now revealed to be a myth.

In November 1902, President Teddy Roosevelt went hunting for bears in Mississippi. The others in his hunting party shot some bears, but he had not seen one. So the hunters found an old, sick bear and tied it to a tree for the president to shoot. He declared it was “unsportsman-like” and did not shoot. The story got to the press and a cartoon showed Roosevelt refusing to shoot the old bear.

Later cartoons made the bear smaller and cuter. That same year, a candy-shop owner put two of his wife’s handmade bears in the window and was given permission by the president to call them “Teddy’s bears.”

In 1903, the Steiff Company of Germany made some toy bears and soon heard about the American Teddy bear, so they sold theirs with that appealing name. Over the years, the bears have changed to a younger look, with short arms and turned-up noses. But the name remains.

Today, a collector can find a vintage Teddy with glass or plastic eyes, and brown, white, tan or even red fur of mohair or polyester. Some are small and hold a perfume bottle, some have eyes that light up and some are more than five feet tall. A lucky bidder bought a 1930s red mohair “electric eye” Teddy bear for $448, even though it was worn and the eyes didn’t work.

Q. I have a tea set marked “Colclough, Bone China, Made in England.” The name of the pattern, “Amanda,” is also marked on the bottom of the pieces. The set includes six teacups, saucers, small tea plates and bowls and four larger tea plates. Can you give me any information about this?

A. Herbert Joseph Colclough started a pottery under his name in Longton, Staffordshire, in 1897. It became Colclough China, Ltd., in 1937. The company made affordable bone-china tea sets and dinnerware that could be bought by the piece. The company became Booths & Colclough, Ltd., in 1948. It merged with Ridgeway in 1955 and Colclough and Ridgeway became part of the Royal Doulton Group in the early 1970s. Colclough production was discontinued in 1996. A cup and saucer sells for about $10-$20.

Q. I’m trying to find out the value of a Grain Belt beer sign. It’s metal with porcelain paint and is 5 feet wide and 22 inches tall. There’s a picture of a bottle cap with the words “Grain Belt” on a diamond on top of the bottle cap and the words “The Friendly beer” next to the cap. I think it’s from the early 1940s.

A. Grain Belt beer was first made by the Minneapolis Brewing Co. in 1893. It was advertised as “The Friendly Beer with the Friendly Flavor” after Prohibition ended in 1933. The company was sold several times. Grain Belt beer is now owned by August Schell Brewing Co. of New Ulm, Minnesota. Beer signs sell at advertising shows and auctions. Large enameled metal signs sell for a few thousand dollars if old, more if the decoration is interesting.

Q. I’d like to know the value of a framed Audubon print titled “Pinnated Grouse.” It’s marked with a copyright symbol and “By A. Inc. 1937, Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon F.R.S.F.L.S.” It’s also marked “Engraved, Printed, & Colored by A.P.P. Co., Inc., N.Y.” and “Endorsed by the National Association of Audubon Societies.” Is it valuable?

A. Audubon bird prints originally were issued as part of books from 1826 to 1854 and have been reproduced millions of times since then. The words “After John James Audubon” are on all the prints, including the originals, because they are copies of oil paintings by Audubon. The original bird prints were done by hand and were made in only two sizes, 26 1/2 inches by 39 1/2 inches and 11 inches by 7 inches. Later reproductions were machine made and came in different sizes. Fourteen of the original prints were bought by The Artistic Picture Publishing Co. and reproduced between 1937 and 1943. Original prints sell for several thousand dollars. Some early reproductions sell for a few hundred dollars, while others sell for about $10.

Q. Can you tell me something about the furniture maker A. J. Johnson & Sons? We have a china cabinet with a paper label that reads “A.J. Johnson & Sons Furn. Co., Chicago, Ill.”

A. A.J. Johnson & Sons Furniture Co. was established in Chicago in 1869. The company made dining and bedroom furniture. It was in business until at least 1912.

Tip: Have you ever pulled a drawer handle and had it fall off the drawer? This problem is not uncommon for very old furniture with bail handles. The best way to get the handleless drawer open is to use a plunger, the plumber’s friend. Stick it to the front of the drawer, then pull.

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

• Advertising sign, Fairy Soap, Little Sweethearts, boy giving girl flower, frame, 1901, 23 x 31 inches, $30.

• Bronze sculpture, dog, Scottie, standing, ears up, tail straight up, cast, Art Deco, c. 1940, 8 inches, $90.

• Porcelain holy water font, beige, white, figure on flower, Gothic style arch, c. 1910, 15 x 8 inches, $180.

• Pan, to poach fish, copper, brass, interior aluminum lift out tray, 1900s, 5 1/2 x 27 1/2 inches, $185.

• Toy tractor, trailer, power shovel, Hubley, box, 1960s, 21 x 9 inches, $225.

• Armoire, Belle Epoque, ormolu, parquetry, mahogany inlay, mirrored doors, c. 1900, 87 x 80 inches, $550.

• Lamp, electric, Art Nouveau, tole, elephant ear plant base, morning glories and bird vining, c. 1900, 63 x 17 inches, $2,705.

• House blessing, meditation on the 12 hours, multicolor, flowers, hearts, paper, Henrich Otto, 1785, 16 x 13 inches, $2,830.

Write to Kovels, Observer-Reporter, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.