Dear John,
Hello over there from over here!
It's interesting to know that you are preparing a travelling exhibition to
celebrate the centennial of the Teddy Bear.
You wrote,
"As many of you know, the Teddy Bear was invented simultaneously in the
United States and Germany in 1902."
Honestly speaking I thought the Teddy Bear (not the Teddy Boy) was born in
UK.
I was brought up in London and never thought it was born either in the U.S.
nor Germany until I saw your recent posting to the Museum-L.
I am sure you will be introducing the current controversy between the
Americans and the British about the origin of this bear.

By the way, here is some information which you might be interested in.

The Teddy Bear Museum,
19 Greenhill Street, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6LF, UK

Cheltenham Teddies' College, UK

The Old Bear Company (UK)
http://www.flair.co.uk/oldbear

Best wishes for you all!

Ryo

**********************************************
  Yasui Ryo Ghassan $B!! (J
  Museum Consultant
  1458-103, Shinkoji-machi, Machida-shi,
   Tokyo 195-0051, Japan
   tel. +81 427 36 8244   fax. +81 427 36 5916
   e-mail: [log in to unmask]  FOR quicky MESSAGES ONLY
   e-mail: [log in to unmask]  FOR MESSAGES + FILES but
                bloody slow to reach Yours Truly!
   *********************************************

ps
Do you know that middle-aged Japanese men are called "Tsuki-no-wa-guma"
(Selemarctos thibetannus) for their shabby outlook?
It's a new word coinaged by some Tokyo high school girls who show their
contempt for our middle-aged bears found live mostly in the business
activity areas in Japan.
Their impression comes from our gentlemen wearing round neck undershirts
which can be seen from the white shirts with glittering eyes set upon young
girls! (the girls say so.......)