People purchase teddy bears as crib toys for babies. Young men buy them for their sweethearts as a token of affection. They are used for solace in police cars and hospitals. Dealers buy for profit. And collectors buy them for pure joy.
People collect bears for a variety of reasons.
Some collect just advertising bears, some collect bears made the year they were born. Old, new, big, small ceramic, Boyds Bears, Teddy music boxes, you name it, if it is a ted I collect it. I usually respond to the way the bear looks at me. Does it make me smile, feel good or maybe it even makes me laugh out loud, if it does you can be sure that he or she comes home with me. One of my favorite bears was purchased at a garage sale while I was traveling through Wilbur, Washington.