Doll, teddy bear lovers can help Children's Museum Sunday

"Happy Anniversary" is a Steiff teddy bear made in Germany around 1926. In 1989 Rosemary Volpp and her husband, Paul, who have since moved to Carson City, acquired the bear at auction for $86,000.

That made Happy the most expensive teddy bear in the world.

Happy and the Volpps have traveled the world from England to Australia. More than 25,000 waited to see Happy at the Takashimaya department store during her visit to Kyoto, Japan.

During Sunday's Doll and Teddy Bear Auction at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, area enthusiasts will have the opportunity to see the record-setting Happy as well as hear guest speakers on dolls and bears.

The event is a fund-raiser for the museum and will include activities for kids, door prizes, a raffle, refreshments and the silent auction.

"It's getting more exciting by the minute," said organizer Mary Ann Weiss of the museum. "We have hundreds of items."

All items up for auction were donated and all funds raised will benefit the children's museum.

"Nobody's going to make any money off this thing," Weiss said. "Except the museum, of course."

Speakers will include Lena Black, owner of Comstock Antiques in Reno. She will also offer free appraisals.

Another speaker is master porcelain doll maker and Carson City resident Johanna Billig. She will give a demonstration on her craft from pouring the porcelain slip into molds to the final sewing and painting.

Volpp, owner of Happy, has written three books on teddy bears and has an large collection.

Sunday she will also bring Wistful, the 1907 teddy bear pictured on the U.S. Postal Service stamp created to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the first teddy bear.

Raffle items will include a hand-made quilt, dinner tickets at David Walley's Hot Springs, a night's stay and dinner at the Horizon and dinner at the Horseshoe Club.

Activities for kids will include craft projects like making paper dolls and paper teddy bears.

"We're going to have a really full day," Weiss said.

The event will cost $5 per person.

IF YOU GO

What: Doll and Teddy Bear Auction for the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada

When: 12:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday

Where: Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, 813 N. Carson St.

Cost: $5 per person

Call: 884-2226