Princess Diana Bear
Seperating Fact from Fiction
In the world of Beanie Baby Collecting and perhaps collectibles in general, nothing garners quite so much uncertainty, misleading information and downright fiction as the Princess Diana Bear. With today’s blog post, I’m separating the fact from fiction and attempting to clarify the tremendous confusion surrounding this teddy bear. If you’re here looking for the value of your purple bear, keep scrolling.
If you’ve come across a Princess Diana Beanie Baby and are ecstatic because it’s on eBay for tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, I’m afraid I’ve got to burst your bubble. At most your beanie is worth $200, but more likely its worth $5- $10.
Don’t believe me? Head over to eBay and filter for sold items. Any collectible is worth precisely what someone else is willing to pay for it, and those eBay sales prices don’t lie. I’m sorry to disappoint ya’, but hey, it could still be worth two hundred bucks. That’s something right. There are 4 key things that determine the value of your teddy bear: the type of stuffing, the country it was produced in, hang tag variations and tush tag differences.
Don’t believe me? Head over to eBay and filter for sold items. Any collectible is worth precisely what someone else is willing to pay for it, and those eBay sales prices don’t lie. I’m sorry to disappoint ya’, but hey, it could still be worth two hundred bucks. That’s something right. There are 4 key things that determine the value of your teddy bear: the type of stuffing, the country it was produced in, hang tag variations and tush tag differences.
2. Stuffing: PVC vs. PE Pellets
2. Stuffing: PVC vs. PE Pellets
With Princess, it’s all about the stuffing or pellets inside her. In the world of collectibles, 1st Editions tend to be worth more. Unlike many collectibles, these Beanie Babies were not marked with editions, so how do we know which are the originals?
This question has sparked tons of debate. Ty Inc. has never released their official records, nor have they officially commented on the Princess Bear debate. But Beanie Baby experts widely agree that PVC pellets came before PE pellets. In the midst of producing the world famous Princess Bear, Ty switched the stuffing used for all Beanie Babies from PVC pellets to PE pellets.
If you’re curious which version you have, the pellet type is noted on the tush tag of each stuffed animal (see pictures). Because the first batch of bears was produced with PVC pellets, your Bear will sell at a premium if the tush tag says PVC pellets.
With Princess, it’s all about the stuffing or pellets inside her. In the world of collectibles, 1st Editions tend to be worth more. Unlike many collectibles, these Beanie Babies were not marked with editions, so how do we know which are the originals?
This question has sparked tons of debate. Ty Inc. has never released their official records, nor have they officially commented on the Princess Bear debate. But Beanie Baby experts widely agree that PVC pellets came before PE pellets. In the midst of producing the world famous Princess Bear, Ty switched the stuffing used for all Beanie Babies from PVC pellets to PE pellets.
If you’re curious which version you have, the pellet type is noted on the tush tag of each stuffed animal (see pictures). Because the first batch of bears was produced with PVC pellets, your Bear will sell at a premium if the tush tag says PVC pellets.
Like everything with Princess, there’s plenty of debate here. Did manufacturing start in China or Indonesia? Because Ty Inc. is tight lipped about their production records, we’ll probably never know. Despite that uncertainty, recent sales of Princess bears show the Indonesian version is selling for more. (And remember your Princess Bear is worth whatever someone else is willing to pay for it.) With less Indonesia bears than China bears on the market, the Indonesia version is harder to come by, thus boosting it’s price. Take a look at your tush tag, does it say China or Indonesia? (I’m rooting for Indonesia!)
Like everything with Princess, there’s plenty of debate here. Did manufacturing start in China or Indonesia? Because Ty Inc. is tight lipped about their production records, we’ll probably never know. Despite that uncertainty, recent sales of Princess bears show the Indonesian version is selling for more. (And remember your Princess Bear is worth whatever someone else is willing to pay for it.) With less Indonesia bears than China bears on the market, the Indonesia version is harder to come by, thus boosting it’s price. Take a look at your tush tag, does it say China or Indonesia? (I’m rooting for Indonesia!)
4. Hang Tag: Space vs. No Space
4. Hang Tag: Space vs. No Space
This relates to the heart shaped swing tag on the ear of the Beanie Baby. The no space version, pictured below, is considered to be the first version produced, and thus can add value to your toy. To be honest, I put less stock in this particular factor. The tag is easily removed and replaced, meaning your no space tag doesn’t guarantee an early production Princess Bear. When we sell Princess Bears, we neither check nor specify if the space exists. If you’d like to learn more about the Space vs. No Space debate, tycollector.com has an excellent article about this lovable teddy bear.
This relates to the heart shaped swing tag on the ear of the Beanie Baby. The no space version, pictured below, is considered to be the first version produced, and thus can add value to your toy. To be honest, I put less stock in this particular factor. The tag is easily removed and replaced, meaning your no space tag doesn’t guarantee an early production Princess Bear. When we sell Princess Bears, we neither check nor specify if the space exists. If you’d like to learn more about the Space vs. No Space debate, tycollector.com has an excellent article about this lovable teddy bear.
Some Princess Bears have an extra, wider tush tag. This is a Canadian import tag, and it tends to increase your bears value. Some argue it has no impact, however the value of a collectible (or really anything) is determined by what people will pay for it. Looking over recent sales on eBay, it’s clear that collectors are willing to pay a premium for that extra Canadian tag. Does your Princess Bear have one?
Some Princess Bears have an extra, wider tush tag. This is a Canadian import tag, and it tends to increase your bears value. Some argue it has no impact, however the value of a collectible (or really anything) is determined by what people will pay for it. Looking over recent sales on eBay, it’s clear that collectors are willing to pay a premium for that extra Canadian tag. Does your Princess Bear have one?
Phew this post has been so technical, its tough to figure out what’s what. To help ya’ out, I’ve created this handy chart:
Phew this post has been so technical, its tough to figure out what’s what. To help ya’ out, I’ve created this handy chart:
With the value of your Princess Diana Bear settled, I’ve gotta ask do you know the story behind the toy? Here’s 3 fun facts you definitely want to know 😊
With the value of your Princess Diana Bear settled, I’ve gotta ask do you know the story behind the toy? Here’s 3 fun facts you definitely want to know 😊
1. This stuffed animal was produced in honor of Princess Diana and proceeds from the bear benefitted the “Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund” – It’s estimated this bear raised nearly $23 Million!
2. The inside the hang tag is a sweet poem which reads:
1. This stuffed animal was produced in honor of Princess Diana and proceeds from the bear benefitted the “Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund” – It’s estimated this bear raised nearly $23 Million!
2. The inside the hang tag is a sweet poem which reads:
“Like an angel, she came from heaven above
She shared her compassion, her pain, her love
She only stayed with us long enough to teach
The word to share, to give, to reach.”
“Like an angel, she came from heaven above
She shared her compassion, her pain, her love
She only stayed with us long enough to teach
The word to share, to give, to reach.”
3. When first released, Princess Bears flew off the shelves and sold for crazy money. Many factors contributed, but the biggest was a sense of scarcity. Early on collectors believed Princess would be a limited edition, imagine their disappointment when Ty decided to mass produce Princess? The near hysteria around Beanie Baby collecting was no accident, you can learn more about how Ty strategically produced the hype in our article 7 highlights from 28 years of Beanie Babies.
3. When first released, Princess Bears flew off the shelves and sold for crazy money. Many factors contributed, but the biggest was a sense of scarcity. Early on collectors believed Princess would be a limited edition, imagine their disappointment when Ty decided to mass produce Princess? The near hysteria around Beanie Baby collecting was no accident, you can learn more about how Ty strategically produced the hype in our article 7 highlights from 28 years of Beanie Babies.
Now that you’re armed with the truth about what your Princess Bear is worth, you’ll be able to see clearly through the haze of misinformation surrounding this lovely stuffed bear.
Thanks for being here friend,
Now that you’re armed with the truth about what your Princess Bear is worth, you’ll be able to see clearly through the haze of misinformation surrounding this lovely stuffed bear.
Thanks for being here friend,