TLS as president, one page, 7 x 8.75, White House letterhead, January 15, 1908. Fantastic letter to Sebastian Walter, in full: "It was mighty nice of you to send me the Black Forest Teddy Bear—the Teddy Bear of the Fatherland—and to accompany it with such a pleasant and friendly letter. The bear works to perfection, and has been the admiration of my friends and family already." In fine condition, with a few light stains, slight bleeding to the signature, and faint toning from prior display.
The now-ubiquitous Teddy Bear was created to honor President Roosevelt, following the story of a 1902 Mississippi bear hunt: unlike the other hunters in the group, Roosevelt had not located a single bear. When his assistants tracked one down, they clubbed it and tied it to a tree, inviting him to shoot it. Roosevelt refused, deeming it unsportsmanlike. Headlines nationwide praised the president's integrity. The story inspired Morris Michtom, a Brooklyn candy shop owner, to create a small stuffed bear and—after receiving permission from the president for use of his name—place it in the store's window beneath a sign, 'Teddy's bear.' At the same time, the Steiff company in Germany began producing high-quality stuffed bears—presumably what Roosevelt received from Walter, prompting this cordial reply. This is the only Roosevelt letter we've offered that mentions Teddy Bears.
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