When
you really need to find it!
Beanie Babies History & Collectible
Beanies
By Mister
Find
IT - 10/25/2002
H. Ty Warner had worked
for "Dakin" a San Francisco toy company, selling plush animals for 18
years.
In 1983 he stated Ty Inc., ( Ty Inc. was actually
incorporated
in 1986.) which he started out of his home in Hinsdale, IL (a
suburb
near Chicago), where he produced a set of 10 plush Himalayan
cats.
Each plush cat was basically the same style with different names,
colors,
and sizes, each retailed for about $20.00. Initially Ty sold his
plush line to retailers he knew from Dakin. In the early days at
an Atlanta toy fair Ty had sold 30,000 plush animals within an hour,
which
had helped with his start. By 1992 Ty had a sales catalog with
several
dozen animals. Ty wanted to create a plush that was small enough for a
child to put in their pocket, and cheap enough to buy with their
allowance.
In late1993 the first BEANIE BABIES were released at a New York toy
fair.
These were the original nine.
1.) Legs the
Frog. Born April
25, 1993 - retired October 1997.
2.) Splash the Orca
Whale. Born
July 8, 1993 - retired May 1997.
3.) Brownie the Bear,
later his name
was changed to Cubbie the Bear. (These two beanies are
identical
except for the tag) Brownie was really one of the first bears as he was
released and retired in early 1993. Cubbie was first given away
at
Chicago Cubs games on May 18, 1997, and retired in January 1998.
4.) Flash the
Dolphin. Born
May 13, 1993 - retired May 11, 1997 (then replaced by Echo the
dolphin).
5.) Spot the
Dog. Born October
31, 1993 (without spots) - retired with spots
October 1, 1997. Spot without spots is
one of the most valued original nine.
6.) Punchers the
Lobster - later his
name was changed to Pinchers.
Like Brownie, Punchers was released and retired
in early 1993, and the same lobster with the name of Pinchers was
released
later in 1993 at the New York toy fair. Pinchers retired May 1998.
7.) Chocolate the
Moose. Born
April 27, 1993 - retired December 1998.
8.) Squealer the Pig.
Born April
23, 1993 - retired May 1998.
9.) Patti the
Platypus. Born
January 6, 1993 - retired May 1998.
Other then the
internet
you are most likely to find one of the original 9 in the areas of
Chicago,
or New York. All of the original 9 were retired by the end of
1998.
Not only were these Beanies unique in their style and quality, but they
also had unique tags. The original tags (known as a 1st,
generation
tag) a hang tag, with no poems, and was a single, double sided Ty tag,
with the animals style, number and name on the back, and a smaller Ty
on
the front. These animals also had a tush tag, that was white with
black lettering, sewn-in the tush area. Many of the manufactures
recommended the removal of these tags as the toys were given to small
children.
So quick raid your relatives toy boxes! Most of these
originals
were sold at gift shops in the Chicago area in January of 1994, and
today
sell for over $100 each, at auction.
But not only are the
original 9 sought by collectors, but Ty released many Beanie Babies as
exclusive Beanies for charity fund raisers. Add that to the 550 -
600 different Beanie Babies out there today (10/25/2002), of which the
real collector wants one of each in their collection. . There are also
several different styles like the Attic Treasures, Beanie Kids, Basket
Beanies, and Jingle Beanies. To see them all log on to www.Ty.com.
Mister
Find
IT
is an unofficial Beanie Babies ® site, not related to or sponsored
by Ty Inc.
CLICK
HERE TO PLACE A WANTED AD ABOUT THE BEANIES YOU WISH TO BUY!
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