3rd Dec, 2024 12:00

Teddy Bears of Witney Auction

 
Lot 155
 

155

‘Happy’

Sold for £45,000
Estimated at £20,000 - £30,000


 

‘Happy’ a very rare Steiff brown-tipped mohair Teddy Bear, circa 1926, with unusually large glass eyes, with white curly mohair with brown tipping, large clear and black glass eyes with brown backs, pronounced muzzle, brown stitched nose, mouth and claws, swivel head, jointed elongated limbs with felt pads, hump, large growler and FF underscored button ear —24in. (61cm.) high (some fading to brown topping, minimal thinning and a few tiny spots to felt); with string of pearls, crochet collar and self-published book by Rosemary and Paul Volpp ‘The Happy-est Bear - A Biography’, signed and dedicated to Ian Pout - starring on the cover and page 45 of The Ultimate Teddy Bear Book - Happy made headline news when she sold for a world record sum of £55,000 at Sotheby’s 1989; she became so famous, her buyers Rosemary and Paul Volpp then travelled the world with her raising money for charity, until Ian Pout bought the Volpp's remaining collection in 2020