Antique teddy bear valued at $7,000-$8,000 in 1996 gets a $10,000 updated value in 2026 for its rare white fur and classic features | World News

PC: PBS Antiques Roadshow

A white teddy bear named Buffy has received an updated valuation of $10,000, three decades after an antiques expert estimated its auction value at $7,000 to $8,000. The bear appeared on the television programme Antiques Roadshow in Denver in 1996, when toy specialist Noel Barrett examined it and explained the features that made it valuable.According to the PBS Antiques Roadshow, the German-made Steiff bear, believed to date from the mid-1920s, stood out for its 24-inch size, long arms, hump-backed shape and rare white fur. The expert also praised the bear’s excellent condition and careful preservation. The official appraisal now lists its updated auction value at $10,000 in 2026.

How did the antique teddy bear’s value change over three decades

When Buffy appeared on Antiques Roadshow in 1996, Noel Barrett estimated that the bear could fetch between $7,000 and $8,000 at auction. The owner was astonished and asked whether the expert was kidding. Barrett replied that he was not.Thirty years later, the official appraisal lists Buffy’s updated value at $10,000 at auction. The original valuation was recorded during the programme’s Denver event in 1996. The updated figure gives the bear a higher estimated auction value than it had at the time of its first appraisal.The valuation concerns Buffy, the white Steiff bear featured in the original assessment, rather than her darker companion, Bucky, which the owner said was at home.

How did the expert identify Buffy as an antique Steiff bear

Barrett dated Buffy to around the mid-1920s. The owner said the bear had been in her possession for about six years before the 1996 appraisal. It had come from her stepfather’s family after her father died and her mother remarried.The owner also had another bear at home named Bucky. He was about the same size as Buffy but had darker fur, and she described him as Buffy’s companion. Barrett recognised Buffy as a German-made Steiff bear by the small button attached to her ear.He explained that Steiff still used buttons in its toys, although their design had changed over the years. Buffy’s button had an early design, with the letter ‘F’ extending beneath it, which helped Barrett estimate the bear’s age.

What made Buffy a rare and valuable Steiff teddy bear

Barrett pointed to several features that made Buffy a desirable example of a classic teddy bear. Measuring 24 inches, she was a good size for a bear of this type. Her long arms and hump-backed shape were also sought-after features.Her white fur added to her appeal. Barrett explained that white bears, sometimes described as champagne-coloured, were rarer than those with brownish or golden fur.The combination of her size, shape and colour set Buffy apart from more common teddy bears. Barrett also noted the early-style button in her ear, which helped him establish the bear’s age and identify it as a Steiff product.

Buffy’s distinctive features made her stand out at appraisal

Barrett was impressed by Buffy’s condition, describing her fur as being in very good shape and the bear as exceptional overall. He noted only minor damage, including a small worn patch in the fur. The fabric covering on her feet, however, remained in excellent condition. He added that the shorter fur around her snout was part of the original design, as it had been trimmed during manufacturing.Despite a few minor signs of wear, Buffy was still in excellent condition. Her rare white fur, long arms, hump-backed shape, and 24-inch size also made her stand out. These features, along with the early-style Steiff button in her ear, led Barrett to estimate her auction value at $7,000 to $8,000 in 1996.