Nursery World - Bear facts (1)

<P> Its 100 years since the first bear was named Teddy. <B> Bernard Tennant </B> looks at the evolution of the species that has become one of the worlds best-loved toys </P>

Its 100 years since the first bear was named Teddy. Bernard Tennant looks at the evolution of the species that has become one of the worlds best-loved toys

There are two stories as to how the teddy bear was created, which both occurred in 1902, but there is no documentary evidence to prove that either is true. The only proven fact in either tale is that on 18 November 1902 the Washington Evening Star carried a cartoon by Clifford Berryman showing the president of the United States, Theodore Teddy Roosevelt, refusing to shoot a captive bear cub that had been cornered for him during his favourite sport of bear-hunting.

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