- Beanie Babies first hit the toy market in 1993 when the toy maker Ty Warner introduced the original nine Beanies at the World Toy Fair. These stuffed animals were stuffed with PVC pellets (beans) rather than traditional stuffing. This and the animal's small size made them popular with children. The toys did not become valuable collectibles until 1997 when the original nine Beanies were retired. Collectors were instantly struck by the desire to own a rare or hard-to-find Beanie, and the value of retired Beanie Babies that were in excellent condition began to skyrocket.
- The value of a Beanie Baby varies significantly depending on many factors, one of which is the features the Beanie has. Original "hang tags," the heart-shaped tags that carry the Ty logo and animal's name, add value to a Beanie, as does the presence of the "tush tags," or the tags on the animal's bottom that also carry the animal's name and Ty logo. Many Beanie Babies were originally issued with ribbons, and the presence of the ribbon increases the value of the toy.
- The condition of the Beanie is another factor that determines its value. Mint-condition Beanies are the most valuable. These toys appear to be brand-new, including undamaged tags and ribbons. It is rare to find older Beanies in this condition. However, Beanies in near-mint condition are also highly valuable. These may have some slight damage to the tags, but otherwise look new. The rarity of the toy is also a factor that determines its value. For instance, a Beanie that is from the original nine and is in mint condition is going to have a high value.
- The most valuable Beanie Baby is a mint-condition No. 1 bear. This bear was only given to Ty sales representatives. There were only 253 released, and Ty Warner signed each one. These are almost impossible to find for sale, so determining a value is difficult. The other most valuable beanies are those that were mistakes. For instance, an original monkey that has the name "Nana" instead of "Bongo" could be worth $4,000, because this monkey was quickly renamed after it was originally launched. A royal blue Peanut the Elephant is also worth thousands, because this was a factory mistake. The actual color of Peanut is light blue. In general, defects increase the value of a Beanie.
- Determining the value of a Beanie Baby is not an exact science. Much depends on the demand in the market for a particular animal. Some are worth just a few cents because they are readily available in mint condition. Others, such as the original nine, sell for up to $4,000 because they are hard to find in mint condition and are highly desirable to collectors. To determine how much your current Beanie Baby is worth, look around to see what other similar Beanies are selling for. This will give you a good idea as to your doll's value.
Comments
delora said
on 10/10/2009 my name is delora and i've got a royal blue elephant. it does not have the paper tag, but does have the tush tag. it says 1993 ty inc. the tag does not give the name of the beanie baby. it is is very good condition.the pa reg # is 1965. also for the same year i have the Attic treasure collection bear with the ty inc. name is Rosalie it has both tag and tush tag and its in perfect condition. If interested call me at 304-267-4797
krittermom63 said
on 8/20/2009 I have 11 beanies I'm trying to find their value. They have the original heart-shaped tag, they have the tush tags, and they are in excellent condition. Can anyone help me get this information? They are from years 1999 and 2000. Send any information to krittermom63@yahoo.
com. Thanks
noldaann said
on 7/31/2009 my name is anna. my daughter got married and left a box full of beanie babies. anyone care to buy them ?they are about 15 yrs.old and in great shape. call me if intrested.@ 281 736-2126 thanks