Author Archives: rarestbeans

This is the 3rd and final known set of prototypes for the violet employee teddies. The other two have been reviewed here: (red and green set, and chest logo embroidered set). With those, you can read more about the history of the production violet employee teddies, and our theories around their distribution/eventual design ( lackContinue reading “Ty Employee Teddy Set Prototype: PADDED FEET!”

Tyriffic beanies – very special prototypes Ty showcased around the country at his various pop-up stores in select airport terminals, are among the most coveted in the hobby. They were the examples Ty specifically selected to better showcase a bit under the beanie hood – let collectors into his design thinking. There are so veryContinue reading “Tyriffic WHITE Pugsly and LILAC Bessie Prototypes”

Garcia is one of the most iconic and notable styles in the hobby. Released originally with a 3rd generation tag, and then retired prematurely on account alleged copyright disputes with the Jerry Garcia estate, this guy was the first tie-dyed Teddy in the hobby. It is always fun to find a full color departure withContinue reading “Garcia Prototype Ty Teddy Beanie Baby Bear: SOLID White with patch”

We had considered reviewing this set individually, but looking at these all together is extremely vivid. This set is well known within collecting circles as the only complete prototype set of the Hong Kong teddies. There may be a few others that come to light in future posts, but most examples, so far, only haveContinue reading “Ty Hong Kong Teddy Beanie Baby Bear Prototype SET: 2010-2019”

Another extremely special prototype. This is a full departure for Tabasco the bull – in solid tan with red patch! Full pax tags with pax date: 12.26.94. Production example of this piece was released in solid red on 2/3/95. There is one other know prototype for Tabasco – the famous tie-dyed example, that was reportedContinue reading “Tabasco the bull Prototype: TAN with red patch”

Most serious collectors are familiar with the New York City Toy Fair signed light blue Decade bears. Brief recap – on Feb 16, 2003 at the NYC Toy Fair at the Javits Center, Ty Warner personally signed 100 light blue decade bears in gold, and addressed them to recipients by name. Typically, around five ofContinue reading “Ty Signed Contest Decade Bears”

This Rex has popped up in several photos before. He was one of the prized prototypes in the esteemed collection of Andrew Bigos – surfaced via (infamous) Queenie Beanie who originally surfaced many of the most famed pieces, including the Picasso Bear etc. This was one of the most vintage and wild pieces surfaced, alongContinue reading “Rex Solid Yellow Prototype Ty Beanie dinosaur”

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 withContinue reading “Inky The Tan and WHITE Octopus PROTOTYPE”

Even 30 years after the beanie line’s release, rare pieces are still surfacing. This is the beauty with almost every one of Ty’s different plush lines – the sheer number of variations discovered, and variations conjectured to exist that still have yet to surface – keep the hunt going all these years later. The plushContinue reading “Ty Billionaire #8 Bear #1 of 480!”

On the heels of our most recent article sharing the famous red and black radar, we have its counterpart in ORANGE and black. This piece is identical in departure and age to the red example, but in orange. It seems Ty wanted to try out radar in a variety of Halloween/fall colors. This example surfacedContinue reading “Radar ORANGE and BLACK Prototype Bat”