Do you have a nostalgic collection of bygone hot toys tucked away in your attic that you can’t bear to part with? Fads come and go, sweeping both children and adults up in collecting crazes with no end in sight. Beanie Babies exploded in popularity in late 1995, fueled by deliberate scarcity, unique creative elements, and calculated new releases and retirements. Some particular Beanie Babies gained celebrity and became highly sought after.
Beanie Baby experts believe that only 2,000 royal blue copies of Peanut the Elephant exist.
Peanut the Elephant in royal blue is one of the most expensive, sought-after Beanie Babies. It was introduced on June 3, 1995, and this version was retired on October 2, 1995. It became so wildly popular because creator Ty Warner decided to change the elephant’s color from royal blue to baby blue after only four months, which made the royal blue version a rarity. One sold at auction for $3,000 in 2000.
As of 2018, more than 25.7 billion Pokémon cards had been sold worldwide.
Not all fads are as short-lived as Beanie Babies. Thanks to a steady stream of new and accessible games like Pokémon Go and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!/Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, the world’s enthusiasm for Pokémon has surged. In fact, first-edition cards like the holographic Charizard have sold for thousands of dollars. In 2017, a first-edition holographic Charizard in pristine condition sold for $55,650 on eBay. Imagine going through your childhood belongings and discovering that you have one of these cards in top shape!