{"product_id":"merrythought-winnipeg-bear-limited-edition-100-years-of-winnie-the-pooh-alpaca-bear","title":"Merrythought Winnipeg Bear | Limited Edition 100 Years of Winnie-the-Pooh Alpaca Bear","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMerrythought Winnipeg – Limited Edition Alpaca Bear\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCelebrating 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh: 1926–2026\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBehind the name Winnie-the-Pooh lies the extraordinary true story of a real Canadian black bear – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinnipeg\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, affectionately known as Winnie.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo commemorate the centenary of A. A. Milne's \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinnie-the-Pooh\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Merrythought has created this exceptional \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLimited Edition Winnipeg Bear\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, lovingly handmade in England using the finest pure alpaca plush and traditional bear-making techniques.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe True Story of Winnipeg\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinnipeg's remarkable story began in Canada during the First World War. Lieutenant Harry Colebourn, a British-born veterinary surgeon serving with the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps, purchased an orphaned black bear cub while travelling across Canada with his regiment. He named her Winnipeg after his adopted hometown in Manitoba, soon affectionately shortening her name to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinnie\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen Colebourn's regiment travelled to England for training, Winnie came with him and became a much-loved mascot. Before Colebourn was deployed to France, however, he entrusted Winnie to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLondon Zoo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, where she would eventually remain.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt was there that the gentle black bear captured the imagination of a young \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChristopher Robin Milne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, who regularly visited the zoo with his father, author \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA. A. Milne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Christopher Robin became so fond of Winnie that his own teddy bear was renamed after her.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat childhood friendship would help inspire one of the most famous names in children's literature: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinnie-the-Pooh\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Bear Made to Mark 100 Years\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst published in 1926, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinnie-the-Pooh\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e has enchanted generations with stories of friendship, kindness and life's simple pleasures. In \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2026, the book celebrates its 100th anniversary\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, making Winnipeg's extraordinary place in its history more meaningful than ever.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMerrythought's Winnipeg has been created as a lasting tribute to the real bear behind the famous name.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLovingly handmade in England from beautifully soft \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ejet-black alpaca plush\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Winnipeg features a contrasting fawn-coloured muzzle, expressive lifelike eyes, delicately embroidered paw detailing and a wonderfully cheerful smile.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach bear is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eindividually numbered and limited to just 1,926 pieces worldwide\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a number specially chosen to represent the year \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinnie-the-Pooh\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was first published.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinnipeg is presented in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003epure cotton dust bag\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and accompanied by a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCertificate of Authenticity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, making this a particularly special keepsake for Merrythought collectors, lovers of classic children's literature and admirers of the remarkable history behind Winnie-the-Pooh.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-spread=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHandmade in England by Merrythought\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInspired by Winnipeg, the real Canadian black bear known as Winnie\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eCreated to commemorate 100 years of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinnie-the-Pooh\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in 2026\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLimited edition of only 1,926 pieces worldwide\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach bear individually numbered\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLuxurious jet-black pure alpaca plush\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eContrasting fawn-coloured muzzle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExpressive lifelike eyes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmbroidered paw detailing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFilled with recycled polyester (PET) and recycled glass beads\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePresented in a pure cotton dust bag\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIncludes Certificate of Authenticity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLight surface clean only\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuitable for children over 36 months\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease remove all tags and accessories before giving to a child.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Merrythought","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58531162423677,"sku":"BKB13WP","price":229.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0717\/1404\/6234\/files\/Merrythought-Winnipeg-Bear-Limited-Edition-100-Years-of-Winnie-the-Pooh-Alpaca-Bear.png?v=1786617714","url":"https:\/\/asquiths.com\/products\/merrythought-winnipeg-bear-limited-edition-100-years-of-winnie-the-pooh-alpaca-bear","provider":"Asquiths Bearpawium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}