July 23, 2002 the United States Postal Service announced in the Philatelic News the issuance of a new postage stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Teddy Bear. An enduring symbol of human caring and security, the Teddy Bear has long been the favorite of all the stuffed animal effigies.     At first thought, a black bear might seem an unusual candidate for top spot among the array of available cuddly collectibles. With a possible mature weight of over 600 pounds, Ursus americanus is capable and has a history of man-killing. Granted, most Teddy Bears resemble bear cubs, but surely most Native American and pioneer youngsters were taught to leave any area where they encounted a young bear.     The story of the stuffed bear's ascent to popularity is well known. While bear hunting in Mississippi in 1902, sitting President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt refused to shoot a tethered adult black bear, prompting Washington Post cartoonist Clifford Berryman to produce a drawing of the President declining the opportunity to execute a bear cub tied with a rope held by another hunter. After seeing the cartoon, Brooklyn toy store owners Morris and Rose Michtom made the first official Teddy Bears, filled with excelsior with black button eyes, and received the President's permission to name them after him. Soon the Teddy Bear was all the rage. Rose Michtom and her husband became rich, founding the Ideal Toy Company, and the Teddy Bear was on its way to becoming an enduring phenomenon. There are Teddy Bear collectors (called arctophiles), Teddy Bear magazines, shows and clubs worldwide. There are programs run by police officers, firefighters, and health care professionals to distribute donated Teddy Bears to comfort young and old trauma patients.     Book designer Margaret Bauer of Washington, D.C. designed the stamps depicting four different Teddy Bears; an Ideal Bear constructed about 1905, a Bruin Bear from around 1907, a "stick" bear from the 1920's, and a Gund Bear manufactured in 1948 by a company which has been producing Teddy Bears for more than a century. The original bears used on the stamps belong to Paul and Rosemary Volpp of Carson City, Nevada and Helen Sieverling of Pasadena, Calif.     An issue date of August 16th, 2002 was established for 200 million stamps and 1,420,000 stamped Postal cards. An issuance ceremony was held in Atlantic City a day earlier where "first day" releases were made available to the public. A commemorative panel was printed as well, insuring this cuddly companion a permanent place in our culture.