Hi Amanda,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Beanie Babies (BBs) were enormously popular in the 1990s and widely collected, with the consequence that now there are many "on the market" without nearly enough demand for the supply so values on most individual beanie babies are low.

The BB market is often subject to overvaluation and there are myths surrounding BB values, both for ones with - and without - tag errors (for discussion on tag errors, see https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22870250/nft-beanie-baby-price-guide-bubble-princess-value ).

Websites like eBay and Etsy - which are unregulated - are rampant with fraudulent sellers posting BB at exorbitantly high prices and then the BBs either don't sell or sell privately at undisclosed prices. (For an article that goes into detail about this, see: https://www.vice.com/en/article/epnwmn/investigating-the-fake-ebay-market-for-dollar25000-beanie-babies).

The "Hope" Beanie Baby bear is one of Ty Inc.'s more sentimental and collectible Beanie Babies, especially notable for its religious theme. Ty released "Hope" in March, 1998 and while TY Inc. has never released exact production numbers for individual Beanie Babies, including "Hope" the bear, it was retired in December 1999.

Like 99.9999% of all beanie babies, even including those with tag errors, this has a very nominal value: $20-30 at auction.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A near vintage Ty "Hope" beanie baby
Circa 1998-99
The bear with light brown fur and cream-colored paws in prayer, heart-shaped "ear" tag and folded tush tag, made in China, with PE pellets
(Height)
CONDITION: This appears to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$20-30*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia