How to date a Gabrielle Designs Paddington Bear?

First appearing in Micheal Bond’s books in 1958, Paddington Bear has become a well-recognised and much-loved emblem of British upbringing. With his iconic duffle coat and love of marmalade, Paddington Bear now features in far more than just books. He has been the subject of multiple feature films, had a bronze statue constructed in Paddington Station and been the subject of multiple children’s toys. 

The now, universally popular, Paddington Bear stuffed toys were first created by Gabrielle Designs in 1972. Owners, Shirley and Eddie Clarkson, gifted the prototype Paddington Bear to their children for Christmas, one of which is the Television personality Jeremy Clarkson. Who’d have thought Top Gear and Paddington were so closely related!

Not only did Gabrielle Designs create the first Paddington bear soft toy but they also introduced his wellington boots, which we now so readily associate with the character. These originally were included to ensure the bear stood up straight but have now become a big part of Paddington’s unique look. Micheal Bond even added them into his books after Gabrielle Designs started to include them. The boots were produced by Dunlop, but as production grew, Gabrielle Designs started to produce their own. 

Paddington’s popularity in a soft toy format grew quickly and in 1978, around 87,000 bears were sold. Gabrielle Designs’ application of top-quality materials and the high levels of craftsmanship used, further popularised them, separating them from other mass-produced toys of the time. 

Gabrielle Designs ceased trading in 1997, and up until this point, had been the only licensed manufacture of Paddington Bears in the UK. With its rich history and pioneering design, the early Gabrielle Designs Paddington Bears have expectedly become key collectable items. 

How old is my Gabrielle Designs Paddington Bear? 

The paper label 

Paddington’s iconic paper label reading ‘Please look after this bear. Thank you,’ is a key attributing factor to Paddington’s look. Following Micheal Bond’s depictions, Gabrielle produced bears with this label, however, the earliest bears were released without the words ‘Thank you,’ on the end. The ‘Thank you,’ was a later addition after being suggested by Micheal Bond, meaning the wording of the label can be a big giveaway of your bear’s age. The label may also have a registration number which can be used to suggest how old the Paddington is. 

Authentication Tag

In addition, some Gabrielle Designs Paddington Bears will have an authentication tag which would have the year they were designed included, indicating their age. 

Condition 

Due to their age, finding early Gabrielle Designs Paddington Bears in good condition is becoming increasingly difficult. Early bears in good condition with all their original accessories can generate higher values.

Although they are no longer in production, Gabrielle Designs’ legacy lives on through collectors and enthusiasts on the secondary market. Early examples of Paddington in good condition have been known to fetch up to £200, with some models such as Paddington’s ‘Aunt Lucy,’ generating over £300.

Over the years PM Antiques & Collectibles have bought and sold numerous Gabrielle Designs Paddington Bears. Our wealth of expertise and expertise has equipped us to offer fair and accurate offers for you bears. To see how much your bear could be worth, get in touch with us today for a free of charge, no obligation offer.

Written by Krista Palmer-Preece of PM Antiques & Collectables