I have a Paddington teddy bear from when I was little; I, my children and now my grandchildren have enjoyed it.
It’s a little rough, missing a switch, but other than that, it’s in good shape.
We’d like to keep it in the family, but I always wonder if it’s worth a small fortune and if I should hide it somewhere safe, instead of letting little kids take it to their imaginary tea parties.
And is it worth repairing? Lorena, by email.
Paddington in Peru: The lovable bear is back for his third big screen adventure, and this original bear has been in our readers’ homes since the 1970s.
Dan Hatfield, our resident valuation expert, answers: I have very fond memories of Paddington Bear.
So much so, in fact, that I spent years valiantly trying to develop a taste for jam sandwiches, in solidarity with my Peruvian friend.
I finally admitted defeat on that front, but my affection for the bear remains completely intact.
So I’m excited to evaluate this darling bear, especially since Paddington in Peru – the third installment of the popular big screen series – comes out today.
But let’s go back to 1958, when the world was first introduced to Paddington when the book, A bear named Paddingtonwritten by British author Michael Bond.
Britain quickly adopted this well-meaning, accident-prone bear, whose innocent curiosity and sweet nature endeared him to children and adults alike.
Paddington has grown in popularity over the last decade. In addition to the film series, he also has a cartoon, in both of which Paddington is voiced by Ben Whishaw.
He even received a personal invitation to have tea and jam sandwiches with the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her Jubilee, in a hilarious parody loved by millions.
A very British friendship if there ever was one.
Much of Paddington’s success can be attributed to Gabrielle Designs’ teddy bears, like yours, which helped bring it to life for new generations when they first appeared in the 1970s.
In fact, those signature wellies weren’t part of Bond’s original design: they were added by Gabrielle Designs and proved so popular that Bond added them to the illustrations in later editions of his book.
So how did Paddington Bear get from the pages of Bond’s book to our homes?
The story takes us, not to darkest Peru, but to deepest Doncaster, where Shirley and Eddie Clarkson ran a small company called Gabrielle Designs, specializing in handmade items such as aprons.
In 1972, Shirley decided to create a Paddington Bear for her children for Christmas, one of whom, as you may have guessed, is none other than Jeremy Clarkson. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?
One of them is a fluffy bundle of sweetness, and the other… well, maybe we’ll stick with the bear.
The first Paddington Bears were made by hand and were such a success that the Clarksons obtained an official license to produce them in 1972.
In 1975, another company, Eden Toys, acquired the rights to produce Paddington worldwide, although Gabrielle Bears remain a favorite with collectors due to their quality craftsmanship.
Going back to your specific bear, with a 1974 tag, we can deduce that it is an early Gabrielle original, rather than a later Eden bear.
However, collectors look for specific details that add value: the original blue coat, the hang tag that says “please take care of this bear,” and additional pieces such as intact buttons play an important role.
Gabrielle Designs: This label shows that it is made in England in 1974.
Family ties: Jeremy Clarkson’s mother Shirley made a stuffed Paddington Bear in 1972… and its popularity skyrocketed in the years since.
As yours is missing a switch, lacks the original label and is not an early production, I would estimate a value between £20 and £30.
With the sticker and switch it could have been worth £50-£60.
As for repairs, if your motive is to extend the life of this beauty for your family to enjoy and pass down to generations to come, I would absolutely do it.
But, if it is to add monetary value to your bear, I wouldn’t do it, as it is the missing tag and switch that would have secured the additional value, and restoration costs can often exceed any potential new value.
So while your Paddington won’t fund a trip to see where it all began in darkest Peru (in fact, it would barely fund a ticket from Paddington station with train ticket prices), he’s still a beautiful piece of family history and a British. institution in its own right.
Now I have to run, I have to see a movie at the cinema, but instead of a jam sandwich, I’ll have popcorn under my hat.
Send your modern treasures
Dan Hatfield: Our columnist is ready to value your modern treasure
Dan Hatfield is This Morning’s money-making expert and resident lender. It is an international specialist in antiques, jewelry, diamonds and collectibles.
Dan’s first non-fiction book, Money Maker: Unlock Your Money-Making Potential (£16.99, published by Hodder Catalyst) is available now.
This is Money’s Modern Treasures column seeking appraisals of its items and collections.
Please send as much information as possible, including photographs, to: editor@thisismoney.co.uk with the email subject: Modern treasures
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