Hi Emily,

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 "Signature Bear" from Ty was introduced on January 1, 1999 — colloquially called the 1999 Signature Bear, it was the very first of Ty’s annual “Signature” bears, produced in brown with white flecking and bearing Ty Warner’s signature on the heart. It was retired on December 23, 1999, meaning it was officially withdrawn from production on that date.

Like 99.9999% of all beanie babies, 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 "Signature" beanie baby bear
dated 1999
The light brown bear with Ty's signature and "1999" on a heart-shape on its breast, with a heart-shaped "ear" tag and folded tush tag, made in China, with PE pellets
(Length)
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