Continuing our holiday teddy tour, we have prototypes for the first four holiday teddies released in the beanie baby line. What a treat! All four are complete with pax hang and pax tush tags, and graded as “MWMT MQ” by True Blue Beans.
1997 Holiday Teddy: While there are in fact several known prototypes for this piece, this is the most extreme departure. Complete with 1996 pax hang tag dates – this full solid red departure has pax dates from a year prior to release! A striking and regal prototype. Rarity Rank: 2.25 A ballpark rarity rank. This is a full departure for one of the most collected teddy bears in the hobby. Almost every collection has a 1997 holiday teddy – October of 1997 was when beanie collecting was at a fever pitch!
1998 Holiday Teddy: This is either the only, or one of only two known prototype examples for this equally iconic beanie style. The 1998 holiday teddy was another that was in every collection while beanies still remained extraordinarily popular. This prototype example is the strongest departure we have seen – solid white fabric, with a patch of the production fabric attached (holly and berries) – very neat! Jan 1998 pax dates give show this piece was about ready to go (or at least at the innovation stage) in January, ahead of the Fall 1998 release. Rarity Rank: 2.5. A very strong and striking prototype stage departure for a slightly newer vintage prototype
1999 Holiday Teddy: The only known prototype on record for this style. The 1999 teddy – another ubiquitous style at the peak of collecting. This piece has the missing holiday hat! The 1999 holiday teddy was the first to not have a holiday hat when it hit production. Complete with alternate ribbons (vs. scarf). Early 1999 pax dates, providing the same year-long runway ahead of release. Rarity Rank: 2.75 – a neat variation for a very iconic holiday style that also found its way into almost every collection!
2000 Holiday Teddy: This prototype is awesome! The 2000 holiday teddy was the first holiday bear to be released in the pot-belly style. See below. This prototype was constructed in traditional teddy format, with a crystal nose, signed by Ty! Rarity Rank: ~2.00 – another ballpark. This is such a spectacular piece. Specially signed by Ty, and an alternate vision for what could have been. Ty is known to have done a few form alternation prototypes. These sorts of prototypes are very coveted. We have seen this for Billionaires, Hong Kong Bears, etc.
Rarest Beans 