As head political cartoonist for The Washington Post in 1902, Clifford K. Berryman created what was one of the most significant of all cartoon symbols: the "Berryman Bear." The little bear came into being after news reports of President Theodore Roosevelt's refusal to shoot a defenseless captured bear cub during a Mississippi bear hunt. When this item reached Berryman at The Washington Post, he seized on the idea of depicting the sportsmanlike act of the President refusing to shoot the cub. The cartoon was featured on the front page of the Post on November 16, 1902 and was met with an overwhelming public response. Berryman received floods of letters requesting "repeats" of the bear which he began to feature in all cartoons associated with Theodore Roosevelt.
One year after Berryman's first cartoon was published, manufacturers in
both Europe and the United States introduced jointed plush toys which were
quickly dubbed "Teddy's Bears." By the end of Roosevelt's first
term, the Teddy Bear was firmly established in the world of children's
playthings and manufacturers could scarcely keep up with the demand. The
teddy bear's enormous appeal to children and adults alike continues
stronger than ever today. Now, one hundred years after Clifford Berryman's
cartoon first appeared, R. John Wright proudly presents the Clifford
Berryman BearŪ. Made of the finest alpaca plush, the Berryman BearŪ is
fully jointed and stands 13" tall. Featuring a molded nose, custom
leather-covered eyes, felt paw pads and resin claws, the distinctive
design is faithfully based on the original Berryman drawings. In
celebration of his ancestry, the Berryman BearŪ holds a miniature
American flag in one paw. The Clifford Berryman BearŪ will be produced in
an edition of 1000 pieces. Each will come enclosed in a custom
presentation box along with the signed certificate of authenticity and
forms for owner registration.
$595.00 - Sold Out