THERE sure was a big surprise at Mitchells Teddy Bear Sale last week with the auction of 440 teddies bringing in an impressive £26,500.

Delighted auctioneer Ewan Duff said: “There were around four or five big spenders bidding for the bears, four of them based down in the south of England, and there were several strong telephone bidders too as well as enthusiastic bidders in the room.”

The sale almost featured ‘every bear that ever there was’ including quality makes such as Steiff, Dean’s, Bear Bits and Lakeland Bears, many in excellent condition and retaining their original boxes and packaging, which enhances their value at auction. Most of the bears came from a large private collection in the South Lakes area.

The Lakeland Bears, which are renowned for their elaborate costumes, sold particularly well with the most valuable lot in the entire sale being a group including a sailor which sold for £400.

A skiing bear together with a mountaineering bear also did well making £240 for the pair.

The most valuable single teddy was Lakeland’s ‘Beatrix’ Bear with other individual Lakeland teddies typically making £130-£180 each.

Also amongst the top lots was a group of six limited edition Bear Bits polar bears which reached £350 and another group of five Bear Bits teddies which made £300. Miniature bears also did well with a group of 25 Dean’s Rag Book Company miniature teddy bears under 13cms tall selling for £280 and a collection of shoe button bears making £220.

Amongst the Steiff bears was a group of five Steiff ‘Fruities’ bears modelled as individual fruits, including a pear, strawberry, tomato, orange, and green pepper, which made £180. Three Steiff sets featuring a bear with an airplane, motorboat and yacht sold for £100-£150.

For more details, go to: www.the-saleroom.com/Mitchells