20 of the Most Valuable Teddy Bears in the World

Perhaps the most popular stuffed animal ever, the teddy bear can have some serious value.

20 of the Most Valuable Teddy Bears in the World

Teddy bears came into existence in 1903 thanks to a political cartoon. It depicted a hunting trip taken by President Teddy Roosevelt, showing that he famously refused to shoot an injured bear cub because he felt it was unsportsmanlike.

American toymaker Morris Michtom seized on the popular story and created “Teddy’s Bear.” Other manufacturers quickly caught on, but none more so than the Steiff plush toys company from Germany, which quickly became a worldwide brand name due to the quality build of their teddy bears.

While not all teddy bears are as valuable as the ones on this list, the popular stuffed animal has certainly stood the test of time and continues to be passed down from generation to generation. Do you happen to own any that could be sold for a pretty penny?

20. Bing Clockwork Teddy Bear

Sold: 2007

Price: $4,416 (£2,160)

For a long time, Bing was the only other teddy bear maker in the world besides Steiff — and at first, Bing simply copied Steiff until a lawsuit changed the company's tune.

Starting in 1909, the year this bear was made, Bing used its own designs for bears. That included claws and a pronounced face. This valuable teddy was also large at nearly 20-inches tall.

19. Steiff Karl Lagerfeld Teddy Bear

Sold: 2008

Price: $7,900

It’s not the most expensive teddy ever made, but it’s probably the coolest. In 2008, two German legends, the Steiff toymaker and artist-designer Karl Lagerfeld, teamed up to create a teddy version of Lagerfeld with all of his signature elements — hip sunglasses, a suit and tie, and a “KL” monogrammed belt.

Only 2,500 of them were made, and they originally retailed for about $1,500 a piece. However, they are listed for sale on eBay for upwards of $8,000.

18. Louis Vuitton Monogrammed Teddy Bear

Sold: 2005

Price: $9,000

In 2005, the venerable French fashion house released a teddy it named DouDou (which roughly translates to a cuddly toy or blanket) for the stocking-stuffer friendly price of $9,000. Only 500 were made at the time, and they were obviously ultra-exclusive.

A few years later, there was a second run, but that didn’t diminish the bear’s value — or at least what this seller thinks of its value, hoping to sell it for a whopping $100,000.

17. Gund Snuffles Teddy Bear

Sold: 2010

Price: $10,000

This cuddly little bear debuted at the 2010 American International Toy Fair, where it was encased in thick glass and watched over by a security guard.

Snuffles is the most popular teddy in Gund’s lineup, and this one was made extra special with the additions of white alpaca fur, Tahitian black pearls for eyes and a 10-carat diamond necklace with a white gold chain.

16. Steiff Grandfather Teddy Bear

Sold: 2007

Price: $19,993 (£10,000)

Not to be confused with the newer Steiff Grandpa Teddy Bear, the Grandfather version was a display bear for Steiff and a big one at that, measuring 46-inches tall.

He was created sometime in the 1920s, and this model had plenty of wear and tear when it was auctioned in 2007.

15. Steiff Alfonzo Teddy Bear

Sold: 1989

Price: $20,195 (£12,100)

Alfonzo was a one-off bear made in 1908 specifically for Princess Xenia Georgievna, daughter of Russian Grand Duke George Mikhailovich (hence the bear’s red color). Georgievna took the bear with her on a visit to Buckingham Palace in 1914, but she would never return home due to the onset of World War I and the Russian Revolution a few years later.

She kept Alfonzo until her death in 1965, and her daughter eventually auctioned off the bear in 1989 — the year the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Union’s grip on Eastern Europe loosened. A limited reproduction of about 5,000 bears was released in 1990, but those bears never achieved the value of the original.

14. Steiff Large Display Teddy Bear

Sold: 2006

Price: $35,620 (£18,000)

At 45-inches tall and released in 1906, this is one of the largest- and oldest-known Steiff models. The seller’s great-grandfather originally owned the bear, although it’s unknown how or when it was first acquired.

It spent many years on display in a shoe store in Massachusetts before it was auctioned off. It also lived in the owner’s home, where it was rarely shown and generally kept away from curious children.

13. Steiff PB 28 Rod Bear

Sold: 2006

Price: $49,868 (£25,200)

The PB 28 series was released in 1904, making these few remaining teddies the oldest known bears in the world. The one sold at auction in 2006 was in terrific shape for its age and also sported the rare white mohair, which likely boosted the price from an anticipated £15,000 to more than £25,000.

These bears were called Rod teddies because they had metal rods inserted in them so as to create joints.

12. Princess Diana Beanie Baby

Sold: 2017

Price: $50,000

The Princess Diana teddy is something of a legend among collectors. Upon its release in 1997, the year she died, it went for a mere $5 to $7. But the story goes that stores were only allowed to purchase and sell a few at a time, which got people thinking it would be a limited edition bear.

That apparently sent the price skyrocketing, with at least one confirmed purchase of a set of three bears on eBay for $50,000. Also note that the seller now wants more than $700,000 for their last remaining set of three.

11. Steiff Dicky Teddy Bear

Sold: 2007

Price: $53,977 (£26,400)

This was an engagement present the year it was made in 1930 and remained in the couple’s family until it was auctioned in 2007.

The Dicky teddy was beloved from its debut thanks in large part to its soft fur and the warm smile on its face.

10. Steiff Centre-Seam Teddy Bear

Sold: 2004

Price: $55,304 (£28,680)

Although far from the most expensive bear ever sold, this cinnamon-colored teddy is one of the rarest in the world. It was made in 1908 and features a brooch with the name Will.

It was owned by Pam Hebbs, who was considered to be one of the world’s greatest teddy bear collectors and evaluators. She wrote “Collecting Teddy Bears” in 1988, which showed off her extensive collection and knowledge of antique bears.

9. Steiff Hot Water Bottle Bear

Sold: 2006

Price: $61,742 (£31,200)

In 1907, Steiff created a new kind of teddy that contained a pouch for holding a metal bottle with hot water inside to keep kids warm in cold months. The bottle could be removed when not needed.

The bear sold at the Christie’s auction in 2006 and was owned by the same woman for her entire 90-year life. She even had pictures from her childhood to prove its authenticity.

8. Steiff Elliot Teddy Bear

Sold: 1993

Price: $73,409 (£49,500)

The Elliot model debuted in 1908 and was notable for its bright-blue mohair. Steiff also made five other colorful bears and sent them all to Harrods in London.

Elliot was the least popular among the lot and was never re-created. However, one of them survived and was auctioned in 1993 — fetching three times the estimated price.

7. Steiff Harlequin Teddy Bear

Sold: 2010

Price: $74,201 (£46,850)

The Harlequin model is one of the prettier Steiff bears with its two-tone coloring. It was made in 1925, and this particular bear was in very good condition upon its sale in 2010.

The original owner had sold it in 1999. She worked for Steiff for more than 40 years, including for the last five years of founder Margarete Steiff’s life (who died in 1909).

6. Steiff Diamond Eyes Bear

Sold: 2008

Price: $85,630 (£43,000)

This blinged bear was never sold at auction (at least not yet), but it came with a hefty price tag upon its release in 2008 to commemorate 125 years of Steiff plush toys.

To achieve such a price, Steiff spared no expense. The bear’s eyes are made from emeralds and diamonds, and its nose is solid, 24-karat gold. It’s unclear how many were actually sold, but department store Selfridges said at the time that they hoped lavish Christmas spenders would be enticed by the gilded teddy.

5. Steiff Happy Anniversary Teddy Bear

Sold: 1989

Price: $86,000

Boasting one of the most extensive teddy bear collections in the world, Rosemary and Paul Volpp celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary in 1989 by buying one of the rarest and most expensive teddy bears: Happy Anniversary.

At the time, the bear was the most expensive teddy purchase ever made. The couple said Happy was their most popular bear. While there are replicas of this 1926 bear out there, don't be fooled for the real thing.

4. Steiff Teddy Bear

Sold: 2000

Price: $105,000

This is the oldest known teddy bear in the world, made in 1904.

It reportedly sold at a German auction for more than $100,000 in 2000.

3. Steiff Titanic Mourning Bear

Sold: 2000

Price: $133,285 (£91,750)

After the Titanic disaster in 1912, Steiff made 600 black teddy bears to mourn the victims of the shipwreck.

The woman who owned this particular bear said she never cared for it all that much. So, it sat untouched in storage for decades, which is why it was in such good shape at the time of the auction.

2. Steiff Bear “Teddy Girl”

Sold: 1994

Price: $171,578 (£110,000)

At the time, Teddy Girl was the most expensive teddy bear ever sold. More incredible than the price tag, however, is the story behind this Steiff.

It was made in 1905 in Steiff’s second year of making teddies, and it was the beloved bear of Bob Henderson. He would become a colonel in the British Army and fight in World War II — right alongside his beloved Teddy Girl. In fact, she never left Henderson’s side until his death in 1990.

1. Steiff & Louis Vuitton Bear

Sold: 2000

Price: $182,550

There are plenty of websites claiming this bear sold for more than $2 million, but we were unable to find a credible source. However, the Guinness Book of World Records confirms the bear sold for $182,550, which was closer to other sources we found.

On a side note, Kim Kardashian bought one of these teddies for her third child for $170,000.

Is My Teddy Bear Worth Anything?

While the teddy bears on this list are over the top, you'll find that there are several teddy bears that are valuable. The first thing you'll want to do is properly identify if your bear is indeed an antique and then check to understand it's value. Here are some great tips on how to do that from Totally Teddy Bears. You can also find antique appraisers online or even in your community.

Lastly, you can always turn to eBay's teddy bear collectors and hobbyists page to see what price other sellers are asking.