Teddy bear Aloysius from Brideshead Revisited is the star of a world-famous collection that could fetch over £150,000 at an auction in Newbury

A world-famous teddy bear collection, including the star who played Aloysius in the 1980s TV adaptation of Reunion with Brideshead is to be auctioned in Newbury.

The Teddy Bears of Witney collection will go under the hammer at Special Auction Services, near Hambridge Lane, on Tuesday 3 December and is expected to fetch over £150,000.

The collection is owned by Ian Pout, who opened Teddy Bears of Witney in 1985, the first shop in the UK specialising in the sale of vintage and new teddy bears.

Since then he has bought some of the world's most famous bears, including Aloysius c1910, who became the unexpected star of the ITV series. Reunion with BridesheadIts appearance was a major catalyst for the growth of the antique teddy bear market and it is estimated to fetch between £20,000 and £30,000.

Another top lot is Happy, a rare Steiff teddy bear with big eyes and brown tips, circa 1926, also expected to fetch £20,000-£30,000. Bought by her original owner for a record price as an anniversary gift, Happy has since travelled the world making public appearances and raising more than $100,000 for charity.

Mr Pout is now winding down his collection, but his love of bears began at a young age with Winnie-the-Pooh and his enjoyment of his father reading the stories to him. Pooh is very well represented in the auction and the highlight is a handwritten letter from Ernest H. Shepard, signed and dated 1971, explaining that the model for the Pooh bear in the books was actually his son's Steiff bear 'Growler'. With the letter comes a watercolour sketch of Growler (aka Winnie-the-Pooh), signed and dated by Shepard (est. £8,000-12,000).

Other lots include a second Kanga and Roo that belonged to Christopher Robin's best friend Anne Darlington. Along with photos of the two playing together, they are expected to sell for £2,000-£3,000. A very rare thank you letter from Christopher Robin (aged six) to Anne's mother has the same estimate.

Items belonging to Christopher Robin's nanny Olive Rand (later Brockwell) will also go under the hammer. These include a hand-painted 'Hunny' teapot given to her by Christopher Robin, which could fetch £800-1,000. A tea set for two by Ashtead Pottery featuring Pooh characters has an estimate of £1,000-1,500 and a copy of 'The Pocket Milne', personally inscribed 'For dear Nan, with best wishes from AA Milne, 10 Sept 45', is expected to fetch £400-600.

One of the smallest bears in the collection is Theodore, estimated at £2,000-£3,000. He was previously owned by English character actor Peter Bull, with whom he appeared in various television shows on both sides of the Atlantic, including the Michael Parkinson and Johnny Carson shows. Theodore is being sold with his original accessories, including a telephone given to him by Gerald Durrell and a shop set up by his fans so that he could earn a living during his retirement. For Peter Bull, Theodore was “The One” and “a symbol of non-loneliness”.

Mr Pout chose the bears with great care. He said: “I wanted them to make me smile” and “If I was really lucky, they would have an interesting origin that would make them very special.”

He often researched the bears in depth and one example is Captain Hay (est. £2,000-3,000), a British teddy bear in the uniform of a captain in the Gordon Highlanders wearing the Hay tartan. He discovered that there were two Hays in that regiment around 1916, which piqued his interest.

Another highly sought-after bear from this period is Chiltern Toys' 1915 'Master Teddy', with its bulging eyes and crooked smile. Its estimated value is £1,000-1,500.

An interesting and rare bear from around 1918 is Percy (est. £800-1,000), a rare Steevans Manufacturing Co. bear owned by William Perry Goodbody (1905-1942). Goodbody was educated at Shrewsbury and Cambridge and rowed for both. Percy is decorated with visitor badges from various rowing events.

The auction also includes a significant piece from Witney's teddy bear history – a beautiful white Steiff teddy bear called Xenia (est. £2,000-3,000), named after the Russian princess who owned Ian's first superstar bear, Alfonzo. Xenia is important in the bear world as Steiff made a replica of her in 2001-2002.

Other highlights include: a Schuco teddy bear with a tail mechanism that makes it nod and grab for no, estimated at £2,000-£3,000; Fuchsia, a bright pink mohair teddy bear by British company Dean's Rag Book, is estimated at £1,500-£2,000; a Schuco pink mohair bear in a three-wheeled green tin cart is expected to fetch £1,000-£1,500; and a bear whose head can be removed to reveal a lipstick and whose body is made up of a mirror and powder could fetch £800-£1,200.

The collection also includes a late 19th century Steiff Kingpin bear cone – a cone from the era before teddy bears – which has an estimated value of £800-£1,200.

Mr Pout said it would be an understatement to say it will be sad to part with the collection. “Whether it's good or bad, the decision has been made and if it gets worse and we have to part ways, I've decided there will be no cherry-picking.”

“With the exception of my own bear from childhood and a bear made especially for our 35th anniversary, all unique pieces from our museum collection will be sold. In addition, bears and pictures from the upper floors, including my office, will be sold.

“If one of them brings tears of joy to the eyes of their new owners, I am happy.”

Daniel Agnew, Teddy Bear and Doll Specialist at SAS, said: “This is by far the most beautiful and exciting teddy bear collection ever to be auctioned.

“It's a small but perfectly curated collection and it will be very interesting to see what some of these unique characters and artifacts do.”