Boyds Plush Animals

“Andrew Kenneth,” one of the new additions for spring 2007, is a classic teddy bear: ruffled brown fur, a tan face and a black nose. At 15 inches high, he’s a perfectly sized companion and his expression tells you he’ll wait as long as it takes if you leave without him. Similarly, a plush cat, Caterina Purrsley is the softest fluffiest grey kitten you can imagine. Her shiny black eyes peer out at you from her furry face—she is clearly expecting some attention.

When you think of the Boyds Collection Ltd., you think of teddy bears, Boyds plush teddies that first appeared in the mid 1980s. The first bear was a 100% merino wool teddy bear designed for the newborn son of G. M. Lowenthal and Justina Unger, founders of the company. That bear was an instant friend to its tiny owner, and the characters that followed ultimately evolved into the “Bears and Hares you can Trust,” and a whole line of other animals—cats, chickens, cows, pigs and all the menagerie. The menagerie has grown so large that Boyds retired plush animals have become a growing sought-after group as well.

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So many people love Boyds plush bears and other product lines from the same company that there is an official collectors’ club: the Loyal Order of Friends of Boyds Collection, or Loyal F.o.B.s. Club members have access to exclusive pieces and they can find out about the newest Boyds retired plush animals and seek them out before they become too hard to find. Or they can buy, sell, and trade among themselves. You don’t have to be a member though: non-members can join the other collectors talking and trading on the internet. The secondary market in Boyds Collection Ltd. products is active and growing.

Those who are familiar with the prices of collector’s teddy bears will find Boyds plush bears and other characters surprisingly inexpensive. “Andrew Kenneth,” for example, costs about $28 US, while the slightly smaller Caterina Purrsley, one of the “Bears and Friends,” retails for about $23 US. Larger and rarer bears are more expensive, particularly the limited editions.

Big Jake, a 40 inch limited edition bear from 2005, is now hard to find, and you may pay over $400 US if you just have to have him. For the very tight budget, “Chloe” a 12 inch lovable pastel bunny can be yours for just $10 US.

Boyds plush bears and all their animal friends are readily available on the internet. Read the whole story of the company on the Boyds expansive website, browse the stock of various internet retailers, or search for Boyds retired plush animals to your heart’s content. Join a club, trade on eBay, or order direct from an official dealer—in most cases you can make a purchase on the internet and then sit back in happy anticipation while you wait for your furry friend to arrive.

When you get it out of the packaging, you can be sure its expression will be saying “Where’s my hug?”