Is my 50-year-old Paddington stuffed bear value a lot? DAN HATFIELD replies

I have a Paddington stuffed bear from when I was little – it has been enjoyed by me, my children and now my grandchildren.

He’s a little rough around the edges, with a toggle missing, but other than that, he’s in fine fettle.

We would like to keep him in the family, but I’m always wondering if he is worth a small fortune and if I should tuck him away somewhere safe, rather than let the toddlers take him to their make-believe tea parties.

And is he worth getting repaired? Lorraine, via email.

Paddington in Peru: The loveable bear is back for his third big screen adventure – and this original bear has been in our reader’s home since the 1970s

Dan Hatfield, our resident valuation expert, replies: I have such fond memories of Paddington Bear. 

So much so, in fact, that I spent years valiantly trying to develop a taste for marmalade sandwiches, in solidarity with my Peruvian friend. 

I eventually conceded defeat on that front, but my affection for the bear himself remains utterly intact. 

So, I’m excited to appraise this beloved bear, especially since Paddington in Peru – the third installment of the popular big screen series – is out today.

But let’s rewind to 1958 when the world was first introduced to Paddington when the book, A Bear Called Paddington, written by British author, Michael Bond, was published. 

Britain quickly took to this well-intentioned, accident-prone bear, whose innocent curiosity and sweet nature endeared him to children and adults alike. 

Paddington has rocketed in popularity in the past decade. Alongside the film series, he also has a cartoon, with Paddington being voiced by Ben Whishaw in both.

He even received a personal invitation to take tea and marmalade sandwiches with the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her Jubilee, in a hilarious skit adored by millions. 

A very British friendship, if ever there was one.

Much of Paddington’s success can be attributed to the Gabrielle Designs stuffed bears, like yours, which helped bring him to life for new generations when they first appeared in the 1970s. 

In fact, those signature wellington boots weren’t part of Bond’s original design – they were added by Gabrielle Designs and proved so popular that Bond had them added to the illustrations in later editions of his book.

So, how did Paddington bear find his way from the pages of Bond’s book into our homes? 

The story takes us, not to darkest Peru, but to deepest Doncaster, where Shirley and Eddie Clarkson ran a small company called Gabrielle Designs, specialising in handmade items like aprons. 

In 1972, Shirley decided to create a Paddington bear for her children at Christmas, one of whom is, you guessed it, none other than Jeremy Clarkson. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? 

One of them is a fluffy bundle of sweetness, and the other… well, maybe let’s just stick with the bear.

The first Paddington bears were made by hand and proved such a hit that the Clarkson’s obtained an official license to produce them in 1972. 

By 1975, another company, Eden Toys, acquired the rights to produce Paddington worldwide, though the Gabrielle bears have remained the darlings for collectors due to their handmade quality.

Turning to your specific bear, with a 1974 label, we can deduce it’s an early Gabrielle original, rather than a later Eden bear. 

However, collectors do look for specific details that add value: the original blue coat, the hanging ‘please look after this bear’ tag, and the extra bits like intact toggles all play a part. 

Gabrielle Designs: This label shows that it is made in England in 1974

Family ties: Jeremy Clarkson’s mum Shirley made a stuffed Paddington Bear in 1972… and its popularity boomed in the years after

Since yours has a toggle missing, lacks the original tag, and isn’t one of the earliest production runs, I’d estimate a value around £20-£30. 

With the label and toggle it could have been worth closer to £50-£60.

As for repairs, if you motive is to extend the life of this beauty for your family to enjoy and hand down for generations to come, I would absolutely do so. 

But, if it’s to add monetary value to your bear, I wouldn’t as it’s the missing tag and toggle that would have secured you the extra value – and restoration costs can often outweigh any potential new value. 

So, whilst your Paddington won’t fund a trip to see where it all began in darkest Peru –  in fact it would barely fund a ticket from Paddington station with the prices of train tickets – he remains a lovely piece of family history and a British institution in his own right. 

Now I must dash, I’ve got a movie to catch at the cinema – but I’ll have popcorn under my hat, rather than a marmalade sandwich. 

Send in your Modern Treasures

Dan Hatfield: Our columnist is ready to value your Modern Treasure

Dan Hatfield is This Morning’s money-making expert and resident pawnbroker. He is an international specialist in antiques, jewellery, diamonds and collectibles. 

Dan’s first non-fiction book, Money Maker: Unlock Your Money Making Potential (£16.99, published by Hodder Catalyst) is available now.

This is Money’s Modern Treasures column is after your items and collections for valuations. 

Please send in as much information as possible, including photographs, to: [email protected] with the email subject line: Modern Treasures

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Dan will do his best to reply to your message in his bi-weekly column, but he won’t be able to answer everyone or correspond privately with readers. 

Nothing in his replies constitutes regulated financial advice. Published questions are sometimes edited for brevity or other reasons.

As with anything, if you are looking to sell items and collections, it is wise to get a second and third opinion – not just rely on Dan’s suggestions.