Teddy Bear Bread advertising postcards drawn by W. W. Denslow. According to the Autumn 1972 Denslow checklist (Baum Bugle), these were created circa 1908-1912, which jives with the 1909 postmark on these cards. These are quite hard to find. According to Postcard Collector magazine (1992), “The scarcity of these cards was created by the fact that a Teddy Bear stick pin was given away as a premium upon turning in a set of cards. The postcards were destroyed by the merchant as payment for the pin.”
With beautiful, classic Denslow illustrations and the trademark Denslow hippocampus (seahorse) signature! These are from a set of five postcards. Four were intended for the general public, and one for merchants carrying Teddy Bear Bread, according to researcher and collector, Cynthia Ragni at Wonderful Books of Oz.
The public could present one of the postcards "not later than Wednesday, and order from him two 5c loaves of Teddy Bear Bread, and receive FREE ON THURSDAY a handsome Teddy Bear Stick Pin." Who would have surrendered the card to get a pin?
In 1908 when these cards were created. Everyone knew the original Teddy Roosevelt bear cir. 1903. had a full open mouth that smiled. Had made by Morris Michtom made in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt.
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