The original Winnie the Pooh stuffed toys have been living at the New York Public Library since 1987. Britain wants them back.
New York Public Library Refuses to Give Up Winnie the Pooh
English author A.A. Milne published Winnie-the-Pooh in October 1926, basing the characters on stuffed toys belonging to his son, Christopher Robin Milne. The original stuffed animals, including Winnie the Pooh himself, were brought to the United States in 1947 by Milne’s American publisher, E.P. Dutton. In 1987, the publisher donated them to the New York Public Library and, despite Britain’s best efforts, they have been on display there ever since.
A report by The Washington Post details the country’s efforts to bring Pooh Bear and his friends home, even just for a brief visit.
The Library retains the original Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, and Kanga (the original Roo was lost in an apple orchard in England in the 1930s while Owl and Rabbit were created) and cites their age as one reason they shouldn’t travel. Though 2026 marks 100 years since Winnie the Pooh appeared in print, the toy was gifted to Christopher Robin on his first birthday in 1921, making him over 100 years old. The other toys joined Christopher Robin’s collection over the next few years.
Gyles Brandreth, a friend of the late Christopher Robin, visited New York two years ago on behalf of Queen Camilla, hoping to arrange for the stuffed animals to visit Buckingham Palace for their 100th anniversary.
The Library said no.
Queen Camilla herself visited the Library this summer, gifting them a new replica Roo toy (pictured above). The palace declined The Washington Post’s request for comment on any discussions the queen had with library officials, and the Library did not respond to their request.
The stuffed animals bring the Library thousands of visitors each year, another major reason they don’t want to give the toys up. Past efforts to return Pooh to Britain have involved Parliament, Congress, prime ministers, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and two presidents.
In 1998, Labour member of Parliament Gwyneth Dunwoody beseeched America to give the toys to Britain, saying in the House of Commons, “Just like the Greeks want their Elgin Marbles back, so we want our Winnie-the-Pooh back, along with all his splendid friends.”
America pushed back against these efforts. President Bill Clinton said losing the toys would be “unbearable.”
Notably, the Elgin Marbles that Dunwoody referenced remain in Britain’s hands at the British Museum.
Years later, Prime Minister David Cameron asked President Barack Obama for the toys. Recounted in Brandreth’s biography of Milne, Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear, an Oval Office aide reportedly called Anthony Marx, the head of the New York Public Library, asking if they could announce the toys were going home during a press conference.
Marx said no.
“You don’t understand,” said the aide. “I’m speaking on behalf of the president of the United States.”
“You don’t understand,” replied Marx. “I am the president of the New York Public Library — and the answer is no.”
Since then, the British have focused on possible visits rather than a complete repatriation.
“It would be wonderful if it happens, but I can’t see it happening anytime soon,” Brandreth said. “The ball is now really in the court of the New York Public Library.”
Regardless of the back-and-forth over custody rights, the New York Public Library is celebrating Pooh’s 100th anniversary with special events and a display featuring original illustrations, notable translations from around the world, and the new Roo toy on public display for the first time.
Read about how Disney Parks is celebrating Winnie the Pooh’s 100th anniversary.
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