Beanie Babies

One of the most popular collectibles of all time

Perhaps the most popular stuffed animals of all time with children of all ages are the Beanie Babies. These colorful little animals have captured the hearts of many a collector, just as they captured media attention when they unexpectedly became so popular that people were actually fighting over them.

The first Ty Beanie Babies were created in 1994 for specialty shops, so only 9 were made in that first run. As the popularity of the toys grew, so did their numbers and when Ty retired the line in 1999 there was a massive public campaign to bring back the Beanie Babies. Just a few months later, the people's wishes were granted and the Beanies were back! To date there are over 250 different Babies, some of which are reissues of retired ones with a slightly different twist.

What makes them so popular? Besides the growing value of Beanie Babies the fact that each Beanie Baby has a name and a date of birth gives them a personal touch that many other collectibles don't have. Their brilliant colors appeal at once to children and adults, and out of the ordinary Beanies such as a dragonfly, lobster and otter assure that there is something for everyone.

Another advantage is that newly released Beanies are quite affordable, even for children and collectors on a budget. While older, retired versions may be a little more costly, reissued versions in different colors and materials are often released at the lower price to keep a version of the popular style on the market.

After seeing how much everyone loved the original Beanie Babies, Ty introduced larger versions known as Beanie Buddies into the market. Buddies, in addition to being larger than the usual Beanies, are sometimes larger reissues of retired Beanies. There are also Teenie Beanies, which are smaller versions of retired Beanies.

Next came the Beanie Kids and Beanie Boppers, which combined the beloved Baby style with a more doll-like look. Each doll came in a variety of skin tones and personalities to make sure that there was one that any kid could identify with. Both lines are currently retired, but are still available through collectors shops and online auctions.

One of the newest offerings in the Ty family is the Baby Ty series, which features soft, terry cloth dolls that are more suitable for babies and toddlers. They are made for snuggling, replacing the hard plastic eyes with embroidered ones that are softer and safer for little ones. There are also fleecy blankets with a built-in Beanie Baby that are great for collectors or kids who need a security blanket to cuddle.

An easy way to collect exclusive Ty Beanie Babies is the Beanie of the Month club, which allows you to reserve a year's worth of Beanies in advance. One exclusive Beanie Baby is sent every month, and the only other place to get them is from another collector! Like all things Beanie, the club is also inexpensive and good for collectors on a budget.

Aside from the ones that you can find in specialty and toy stores, there are a number of other ways to grow your Beanie collection. The Official Ty Website offers exclusive seasonal and special ones that can only be ordered through the company, while some special events feature a one-of-a-kind Beanie Baby that can only be purchased that day.

If you're looking for retired Beanies, that's a whole other story. There are many established stores on the Internet that can help you find or buy a retired Beanie Baby. Reputable sellers will often differentiate themselves from poor ones by offering only authenticated Beanies that come with a certificate proving that they are who they say they are. Online auctions can also be a good source, however, you must be very careful! As with an established store, a good auction seller will be glad to prove the authenticity of their Beanie Baby, while a suspect seller will give you every excuse in the book.

Unfortunately, there are quite a lot of counterfeits around due to the high value of Beanie Babies. With the popularity came the expected number of knock-offs. Some companies created their own line with a similar name, but some companies made fake Beanies that looked exactly like the originals and try to pass them off as a true Ty Beanie. For novice collectors it was sometimes hard to spot the difference, but there are many resources out there to help educate you. Some of the fakes are so good that you can only tell them from the originals by examining the hang tag or the tag on the back (called the "tush tag").

Keeping your collection in mint condition is very important to insure that they keep their value over time. UV rays are very harmful to the colored fabrics as well as the hang tag that identifies each one. Special heart-shaped plastic tag protectors can keep your Babies' tags from getting damaged or faded, and smaller plastic protectors are available to protect the tush tags. Acrylic boxes with UV protection are available to store your Beanie Baby while it is on display. If you aren't planning on displaying them, airtight boxes lined with acid-free tissue paper are acceptable.

If you are planning to resell them, it is very important to make sure they have been authenticated or certified to determine the true value before you put them on the market. Even if you didn't know that your Beanie was a fake, you can still get in a lot of trouble for selling it. There are several good companies online who will be more than happy to help you through the process.

Keep in mind, however, the Beanie Baby was originally created to be loved and played with. The best collectors are those who recognize this and treasure each Beanie Baby no matter what condition it is in. Just remember to love your Beanies and have fun, and you'll easily get the most out of your collection.

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