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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Elen Beattie, post: 5222201, member: 18081&quot;]Hi all! So, I requested an appraisal online on a website associated with the Barneby&#039;s Group (auction house), not so much for a valuation but because I know they have some experts on their books with better connections than I do lol Anywho, this was the response:</p><p><br /></p><p>This is a mystery and will remain so. We also contacted Merrythought as well as a retired buyer for the iconic retail giant T. Eatons of Canada. Merrythought had an exclusive contract with this (sadly now closed) retail chain. Eaton&#039;s toy department was like the Hamleys of Canada, stocking all of the finest toys available, especially at Christmas. According to Eatons, the only toy Merrythought made for the Canadian market was the Punkinhead, a little bear created after a book character made specifically for Eatons. There were no other contracts for Canadian retail stores. The Punkinhead bear was mohair, not felt, and we have not been able to find a single felt animal made by them. There is no record of Merrythought ever buying felt for use in toy productions. Nor did they ever produce &quot; bespoke &quot; or made-to-order toys for specific clients (as far as we have been able to determine), They have no felt animals at all in their museum, nor does the V &amp; A in London. We also tried a lens search of this charming little toy, but that did not result in any identification of his origins either. We are not sure where the Merrythought contact who so kindly wrote back to you, got that particular possibility, but we have been told that they did not have the ability to make &quot;one-off &quot; toys, especially from materials not used in the factory. The values above must obviously, be taken as appraised values and not retail or resale values. since, if this is actually a one-of-a-kind (although we cannot confirm that, it could be extremely valuable) One possibility presented by the company is that an employee made this with their own material for a child who may have had an allergy or respiratory issue with the fluffy mohair and other fibers used in the stuffing, etc. However, that is conjecture again, and cannot be confirmed. So, unfortunately, it is basically impossible to provide definitive values. He is worth as much as you feel you can sell him for if that is the plan.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/eek.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":eek:" unselectable="on" /> Not sure where to go next with the little critter! I think I will purchase Kathy&#039;s Martin&#039;s 2009 book on Merrythought. There valuation was a generic $100 CAD, but they don&#039;t seem to really know.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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