To think, Ty’s other original teddy outside of his six old face teddies was itself almost released in OLD FACE style. This is earliest “Valentino” prototype we have on record -1992 pax hang tag dates! Complete with pax hang and tush tags. Valentino was originally released as a 2nd generation piece, and is very coveted with this earliest hang tag. This piece is fully complete, brown nose etc. with completed old face head. Neat! There was also a 1995 poster “Join The Crowd” that showcased Valentino with a 1st generation hang tag. This tag appears to have been digitally added – Valentino was never released with a 1st generation hang tag, but is in fact the most difficult regular 2nd generation hang tag beanie to secure. There are others in this poster (pictured below) seen with tags they were never in fact released with.
Rarity Rank: 1. Though not a “radical” color departure, this is an extremely iconic “1st generation” Valentino prototype that links Valentino back to the original 1st generation group of pieces. Only 1st generation styles have been seen with 1992 dated pax hang tags. It appears Ty may have very seriously considered releasing this piece with other first gens in 1994. While perhaps not terribly “ground shattering”, what this piece represents isn’t fully represented by the rarity ranking garnered here. It’s the link this prototype serves connecting Valentino to the 1st generation released styles that is so interesting.
Rarest Beans 