Are Paddington Bear’s worth anything?

Since its introduction, Paddington Bear toys have flooded the market.

However, the most valuable will be the earlier bears made by Gabrielle Designs. If in really good condition, a Paddington made in the early 1970s can be worth as much as £150.

The Bear’s first appearance was on 13 October 1958 in the children’s book A Bear Called Paddington and has been featured in more than twenty books written by British author Michael Bond, and illustrated by Peggy Fortnum and other artists.

Michael Bond based Paddington Bear on a lone teddy bear that he noticed on a shelf in a London shop near Paddington Station on Christmas Eve 1956, which he bought as a present for his wife.

The bear inspired Bond to write a story and in ten days, he had written the first book.

The Bear, recognized instantly with his spectacles, old hat, battered suitcase, duffel coat and love of marmalade – has become a classic character in British children’s literature.