1998 32c Celebrate the Century,1900s: "Teddy" Bear Created

US #3182k
1998 “Teddy” Bear Created – Celebrate the Century (1900s)

• Part of the first sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Honors the creation of the first “Teddy” bear
• Includes text on the back with historical details

Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Celebrate the Century
Value: 32¢ First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: February 3, 1998
First Day City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 188,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Intaglio
Format: Panes of 15
Perforations: 11.6
Tagging: Block Tagging

Why the stamp was issued: To commemorate the teddy bear and its association with President Theodore Roosevelt.

About the stamp design: Pictures gouache and colored pencil illustration of a teddy bear by artist Richard Waldrep. Includes the following text on the back “America’s ‘teddy’ bear was created in 1902. A cartoon depicting President Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt’s refusal to shoot a captured bear while hunting in Mississippi is said to have inspired its creation.”

First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held in Washington, DC, with legendary radio and television host Larry King as master of ceremonies.

About the Celebrate the Century series: The USPS launched the Celebrate the Century series in 1998 to mark the end of the 20th century and herald the arrival of the 21st. The series includes 10 sheets of 15 stamps (150 in total), with each honoring important moments from a different decade (1900s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s). At the time of completion, it was the longest and most ambitious commemorative stamp series in US history.

History the stamp represents: America and Germany both have claims to the creation of the teddy bear. The Steiff Company in Germany had been making lifelike toy animals since it was founded by Margarete Steiff in 1880. Her nephew, Richard, developed an idea for a bear with moving parts, which they created and showed at a toy fair in 1903.

In America, a popular cartoon was based on hunting trip of President “Teddy” Roosevelt’s in November 1902. The cartoon showed the president refusing to shoot a captured bear. Inspired by this story, New York City shopkeepers, Rose and Morris Michtom, created a toy bear which they placed in their store window with a sign reading “Teddy’s Bear.” That first “teddy” bear sold immediately, and many more were ordered. Continued demand for the bear led to the founding of the Ideal Toy Corporation.

The bear pictured on the front dates back to 1908, when he was made by the Ideal Toy Corporation. He is the same bear photographed for the stamp and is from the collection of author and bear historian Dee Hockenberry.

After more than 100 years, teddy bears are more popular than ever. They can be seen in specialty museums and shops. Teddy bears are favorites in children’s rooms and stories, as well as in grown-up books and collections.