Beanie Baby Collectibles: Finding Good Quality Beanie Babies

Finding good quality Beanie Babies can be even more difficult now that everyone isn't fighting over them. Many have gotten damaged tags over the years, or suffered damage at the hands of pets or children. And the die-hard collectors are still trying to find them just as they did in the prime years of collecting. These tips can help you know a Beanie bargain when you spot one. The tips will also help you know what you should look for.

First, look for good quality hangtags. Because they are made of paper, the hangtags are easily damaged. Any creases, sticker residue from price tags, or marks on them make the entire Beanie worth less. And it goes without saying that the hangtags should still be attached to the Beanie Baby.

Second, look at the "tush tags". These are tags that hang on the bottom of the Beanies, and many were cut off in the early years so that kids could play with them. The tags should have red lettering instead of orange, and no space between the trademark symbol and the name of the company. This is a hint that you're looking at a fake Beanie Baby. There are other signs that you are looking at a fake. Ribbons should have a sheen on both sides of the ribbon, and it should hang loosely to the side rather than sticking out or appearing stiff. The foil on the hangtag should be flat and not rub off easily. Also make sure that the tag, tush tag, and anything else do not contain any misspellings.

Any of the original nine in mint condition are valuable, but the most valuable Beanie is a mint condition "No. 1 Bear". This is a bear that was only given to Ty employees. Obviously, the older the animal, the more it is worth, and this is true even for ones of the same exact animal. The first generation of a specific Beanie Baby is more valuable than the second generation, and so on.

Some bears have been manufactured for certain causes or events, such as the Princess Bear which was made after Princess Diana was killed in a car crash. They made some to commemorate the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria when Columbus came to America. There is a special bear named "The End" when they decided to quit making them, but they got such a big response that they decided to begin making them again. There are also sets to celebrate certain holidays such as Easter or birthdays. There are several sets of birthday ones. Some have hats while others hold presents.

Some were made for corporate reasons. There are Mastercard and Visa ones, and others are a set of mini Beanie Babies called "Teenie Beanies", which were made for McDonald's. For a time, these were highly collected, and people were scrambling to find them at every McDonald's.

Searching for good quality Beanie Babies can yield great results, but using these tips can maximize your collection. Now that you know what to look for, you can find some beautiful Beanies, and make your collection one to be proud of.