Did you know that shortly after Ty Inc. launched Beanie Babies, people made careers out of trading and selling the plushes? After the “Beanie Baby Bust,” many lost their value. However, a handful remains popular collectors items.
Before you go searching through your parent’s attic, searching for the most expensive Beanie Babies, you should know a few things about what makes Beanie Babies collectible or retain their value.
Condition
A mint-condition Beanie Baby appears new without tag creases or wear and tear. The value decreases. One in near-perfect condition may still be worth a good amount of money, but signs or wear lowers their value. Unique errors in printing or stuffing may raise its selling price.
A Matching, Intact Set of Tags
Authentic Beanie Babies have a hang tag (also called a swing tag) attached to the ear featuring the Ty Inc. name. The hang tags have always been an iconic red heart with gold trim, but the design has changed a little with each generation. The first generation hang tags were flat and double-sided, while the rest in subsequent generations opened like a book.
Additionally, each stuffed animal is sewn with a tush tag on its rear. The first-generation tush tags were the only kind in the main collections printed in black ink. Tags from generations six through twelve featured silver hologram designs in place of the red Ty heart.
These two tags need to match in order for Beanie Babies to be collectors items. Both should reflect the exact same name, year, and manufacturing area. Now you’re ready to appraise your popular Beanie Babies!
Popular and Most Expensive Beanie Babies
Beanie babies have sold for thousands online. So which Ty toys are collectible?
Royal Blue Peanut
Peanut the royal blue Elephant is one of the most popular and sought-after Beanie Babies. It was first introduced (born) in January of 1995 and was retired later the same year in October. Only about 2,000 were produced.
Peanut the Elephant was suspected of getting discontinued so quickly as the royal blue color was an accident. Many have tried to turn their light blue Peanut plushes into the royal shade to sell them for big money. Read these expert tips on buying or selling Beanie Baby collections.
Wingless Quackers the Duck
Quackers the Duck is a Beanie Baby that began in the first generation but changed in later years. The first Quackers the Duck was introduced in June of 1994 with a black and white tush tag and no wings. Oddly, wingless Quackers was retired in January of 1995.
A version of the duck with wings was also introduced in 1994 and retired four years later in 1998.
What Will You Do With Your Collection?
Rumors spread around the internet claiming you can retire on the sale of one Beanie Baby. The most expensive Beanie Babies like the royal blue Peanut and Wingless Quackers the Duck are quite valuable! You can appraise your collection online and connect with those looking to buy.
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