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BEARSTONE^TM BASICS

CANADIAN EDITIONS

Canadian Editions are somewhat of a puzzlement. It appears that Boyds
just couldn't decide how to distinquish these issues from
regular issues in the states. With this in mind....

We believe a historical review of Canadian Editions is the best way
to understand how they are marked to distinguish them.

Probably the first Canadian Issue was Christmas Elf Bear With List
#2252 (BC2051). He was a LE (the first). We haven't seen
any of these to provide you with good information. We can't even
confirm the actual year of release or the style numbers.
Reported issued in late 1994 for 1995.
[If anyone out there has one of these we would really appreciate
hearing from you. The date on the mold, the understamp information
and box-card information is all needed to authenticate.]

Christmas Big/Little Pig #2256 (BC2050) is a Canadian Exclusive,
which received a special Canadian sticker (number) of BC2050.
The style number on the stones themselves always says #2256 and not
BC2050. So we have this one distinguished by style number only.
To our knowledge there never has been a Canadian issue from Boyds^®
with the "BC" in the style number. Which is understandable because
BC would indicate British Columbia a province of Canada. Not a good
thing to do! Apparently the Canadian distributor is guilty
of putting the stickers on the boxes with these numbers.
Issued late 1994 for 1995.

Homer On The Plate (Blue) #2218. Homer had edition numbers and
piece numbers just like the regular editions. But we suspect that
the color made this one easy to differeniate it from the regular
edition (Red). This Bearstone^TM has been reported with the style
number BC2210. Well, it never happened. The BC2210 was on a sticker
the distributor put on the box over the number 2218.
The Bearstone^TM itself has style number 2218.
Issued in late 1994 for 1995.

Lefty On The Mound #2066 (BC2056) appears to have been released at
the same time as the US edition (#2253). Since the molds and color
are the same, distinguishing this one from regular editions
took place again by style number. There actually were
Leftys with #2056 on the understamp. Editions and piece
numbers were used with no special indication of Canadian. The
problem arises when it is discovered that the style number is
wrong! Lefty is then (sort of) reissued to Canada with the style
number 2066. The Canadian distributors apparently were confused or
didn't want someone else to be confused (We are!!) and sometimes
put stickers over the style number on the box with BC2056.
Issued in late 1994 for 1995.

Grenville The Storyteller (#2265) is a LE that was marked by just
a number preceded by the letter "C". This then differentiated it
from the LE issued in the states of the same mold. US versions
were issued with months/piece #s. Issued in mid 1995.

Ewell & Walton Manitoba Mooselmen is a Canadian Exclusive LE. So
this is easy right? No US Version or anything. Well, it appears
Boyds^® couldn't follow suit with the Storyteller and numbered these
12,000 pieces with a single piece number preceded by "CN"
(i.e., CN2612). Issued in 1996.

From here until 2000 (1999 in other lines) the Canadian Editions are
distinguished with the letter"C" preceding the numerical piece
number. There are several ways this can occur:
Edition/"C"pc# (3E/C456) or "C"pc# (C2956).
This is true whether it is a LE resin or waterglobe, an Exclusive
or regular edition with color and/or mold variations
that differ from the US Version.

But, of course, Boyds^® was not satisfied with this and so in 1999
they decided to add behind the style number the letters "PO". The
first time this shows up is with Nadia Surefoot With Coach
Meunster, a Purrstone (#371055PO) and Nottaway & Hope Northern Peace,
a Folkstone (#2884PO). However, the "C" stil precedes the
pc#. We are aware that these are not Bearstones^TM. However,
there are certain indications from other lines that carry over to
the Bearstones^TM numbering system.

#228342PO Doug and Dougie...Goin'to the Game is out and on the
understamp you will see the PO following the style #. However, the
number within the edition is NOT preceded by the "C". And, the LE
Dorothy & Co (Canadian Issue) is out with Month/C# (Feb/C3456). The
Style # is not followed by the PO.

What does this mean? All Canadian Issues, except Exclusives, will
continue to have the "C" associated with the pc#. The PO designation
is for Canadian Exclusives only! And, there will not
be a "C" associated with the pc#.

What does PO mean?
We believe that we have solved this issue. The "PO" stands for
Plus One. This is the central distribution center in Canada
for Boyds^®. All Boyds^® items are shipped from the USA
to Canada to Plus One. From there the Bearstones^TM
are shipped to the Retailers.

What does this mean?
In a general sense it means that the designations after the style
number indicates the location or receiver of the Bearstones^TM, when
this location or receiver is the Distributor of the Bearstones^TM. In
this case it is Plus One.

01/01/2001

***Please Note***
The area of Canadian Editions is difficult to assimilate, let alone
fully understand. The information above is our best to date. If
there would be someone out there who would have some varying
information we would be very pleased to hear from you.

Choose another topic you would like to learn about!

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collecting Boyds Bearstones^TM!

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