This is the 3rd and final Inky the Octopus prototype that has surfaced externally from Ty Inc. It is actually the middle in terms of age/style development and transition. Recall the original Inky was released in tan with no mouth, then gained a mouth (still tan), and then finally evolved to its pink color with mouth. We have already reviewed a solid green example with no mouth (1992 pax dates), and an example similar to this one in tan and pink (early 1994 pax dates). This guy has a solid white head, mouth, and tan legs, with early 1993 pax dates! Inky transitioned to tan with mouth on 9/12/94 – only a few months after the non mouth version was released in June of 1994. Below we have pictured all three examples.
Fun fact, there were other Inky prototypes at the Tyriffic Store including a solid orange example with no mouth (similar to the original solid green example with no mouth). A picture of this orange Inky has survived and is below! There also appears to be a production Inky with mouth on display as too – but perhaps it is an alternate shade of fabric. We know for Ty’s original 1st gen pieces especially, Ty created full color departures using the 10-20 shades of fabric encompassing his original releases!
Rarity Rank: 1.5 – This is a strong departure for the 2nd generation Inky the Tan Octopus with mouth! Bolstered given this piece’s color transformation and oldest Inky prototype discovered to have the addition of a mouth.
Rarest Beans 