TRIBUTE TO TEDDY BEAR ARTISTS. by Linda Mullins, 1994 1st edition, Hobby House Press (Grantsville, MD), 11.25 x 8.75-inch very finely grained, matte-finished HB with embossed gold lettering at spine, thick, glossy DJ, 160 pp. printed on semi-thic, white, glossy stock; near-excellent overall condition (book is excellent; DJ is strong very good-plus - bright, clean and fully intact with notable curling at upper front edger and a tiny tear at upper rear edge adjacent to corner; $29.95 at lower rear corner).
PLEASE NOTE: The author neatly inscribed, signed and dated in black ink at the upper section of the front flyleaf ("To Charlotte - I hope my book enhances your interest in artist bears. Linda Mullins 1996").
As the author explains in the text on the rear flap, her hubby gave her an antique bear in 1978, and it fascinated her so much that she became an avid collector who became knowledgeable and connected enough in that world to found and host the semi-annual event Linda's Teddy Bear, Doll and Antique Toy Festival. Held in her hometown of San Diego, it was beginning its second decade when this book was published and its average attendance was 3000-plus collectors and growing. The event also helps raise money for Good Bears Of The World (G.B.W.) by encouraging dealers and collectors at her show to donate bears to the non-profit which are sold to raise money for the purchase of affordable, durable, modern teddy bears which are distributed to poor kids around the world. This book, which profiles 130 Teddy Bear artists from the U.S. and abroad who have created unique teddy bears. The profiles are warm and engaging and the 100s of photos of the teddy bears are lovely.
There are no other signed copies of the book on eBay, so it's scarce. The best price for a near-mint HB with a stock cover photo is $16.49 with free shipping.
My Buy-It-Now price of $24.00 includes shipping bubble-wrapped in a cardboard box via media mail, which takes around 7 days with tracking.