Description

The very first Paddington bear soft toy was designed in the UK by Shirley Clarkson. She made it as a Christmas present for her children, Joanna and Jeremy Clarkson (yes – that Jeremy Clarkson!). So many people admired Shirley’s Paddington that her company, Gabrielle Designs, was granted an official licence to sell them in the UK in 1972.

This was the very first Paddington product licence. Meanwhile, Paddington’s popularity was beginning to grow outside the UK and in 1975 the US company Eden Toys acquired the licence to make and sell Paddington bears throughout the rest of the world.

Both Gabrielle Designs and Eden Toys started to make their bears in a number of different sizes and styles and Eden Toys in particular produced a large range of different outfits for Paddington. All of Gabrielle Design’s bears were handmade in a small factory in Doncaster in the UK. The most valuable of these are the very early bears, particularly if they are in good condition and come complete with their original clothing.

Until Gabrielle Designs ceased trading in 1997, followed shortly afterwards by Eden Toys, these were the only two licensed manufacturers of Paddington plush bears.