The 1987 Tush Tag
Grouping plush identifiable by their 1987 dated tush tags.
Here is a list of style numbers and the corresponding plush.
Style#
1001
1001H
1003
1003H
1005
1005H|
1007
1007H
1009
1111
1112
2001
2002
3001
3002
5000
5001
5002
5003
6001
7000
7001
7002
8001
Description
20″ white laying cat
20″ Himalayan cat
20″ cream laying cat
20″ Himalayan cat
20″ auburn laying cat
20″ Himalayan cat
20″ grey laying cat
20″ Himalayan cat
20″ black cat
20″ gold tabby cat
20″ flat tuxedo cat
20″ yellow lab
20″ laying dalmatian
20″ laying sheep dog
36″ laying sheep dog
8″ jointed tan bear
14″ brown bear
14″ white bear
14″ black bear
20″ laying pig
10″ white monkey
12″ white monkey
16: white monkey
20″ lamb
In 1987 Ty Inc expanded to designs beyond the long-haired plush cats and dogs from the 1986 series. During 1987 the 1986 tush tag dated plush designs were retired but transitioned to 1987 designs as follows.
Kashmir->Angora->Angel
Kasha->Jasmine/Kasha->Peaches/Ginger
Bijan->Bijan->Smokey
Schusha->Schnapps->Max
The baby size flat cats and seated cats were retired all together.
The 1987 tush tag date designates the designs original patent date. They were initially write in orders in 1987 then officially introduced in the next annual catalog as “The 1988 Collection”.
These plush were released with 1A then 1B hang tags for the 1987-1988 production year. Depending on when they were retired, they are found with later tags during those production years.
The monkeys, Jake in all sizes and mischief, were introduced in white for the 1988 collection but then included brown and auburn for the 1989 collection. Brown was later retired and Chocolate was introduced. All were issued with 1987 tush tag dates per their original patent date for the design in 1987. Of these, only Jake white can be found with a 1988 tush tag date.
Arnold the pig was produced for the 1988 collection and then replaced by Petunia who was introduced for the 1989 Collection. Both will be found with both 1987 and 1988 tush tag dates in the flat style. They were later introduced in a standing version both with 1989 dated tush tags.
It is interesting to note the year is 1987 and Ty has already made the decision to skip the 4000 series of style numbers, quietly planning a series to come. BEANIE BABIES!! Early sources report Beanie Babies were the goal from day one, Ty only needed time to refine the production cost of bean bags and plush were a means to build a stable company to reach this goal. All 1986 dated plush are stuffed with polyester alone, they do not have bean bags. For the first time in Ty history, in 1987, starting with the “1988 collection” Bean Bags were sewn into the plush. To me this was a significant early step in refining the production costs to make Beanie Babies as Ty envisioned possible.
The Small Heart Tush Tag
The small heart tush tag run is identifiable by their vertical styled tush tags which unlike most 1987 tush tags, the heart is the same size as the 1986 2nd run tush tag heart. See below the horizontal styled 1986 second run tush tag then the small heart tush tag (1987), seconr row the regular sized heart “OPEN HEART” (1987-1990) tush tag, and the “SOLID HEART” (1991-1994) tush tag.
Small heart plush
The small heart plush are defined by their small heart styled tush tag noted above, these are the first run of plush destined for “The 1988 collection”. They were only produced in 1987. Angel, Peaches, Ginger, Smokey, Licorice, and Max were not produced with this tush tag because orders for the production of the 1986 plush were still in progress.
This group was released right after the second run of 1986 cats. An early order form for second run 1986 cats and dogs suggests these were offered as write in orders. The small heart series was never officially featured on any flyer or catalog known to date.
These were released late mid year 1987 and were Tys first plush beyond the 1986 long haired cats and dogs.
Style#
1111
1112
1113
2001
2002
5001
6001
7001
7002
8001
Description
23″ side laying tabby
23″ side laying tuxedo cat
23″ side laying grey cat
23″ side laying yellow lab
23″ side laying white dog
14″ brown bear
23″ side laying pig
12″ white monkey
16″ white monkey
23″ side laying lamb
*Small heart Fritz and Lovie theoretically exists but no data currently exists, the same was true for Jake but this example was identified in 2023.
Plush which were released in 1988 but have 1987 tush tags.
Style#
1111
1112
1113
2001
2002
5001
6001
7001
7002
8001
Description
23″ side laying tabby
23″ side laying tuxedo cat
23″ side laying grey cat
23″ side laying yellow lab
23″ side laying white dog
14″ brown bear
23″ side laying pig
12″ white monkey
16″ white monkey
23″ side laying lamb*
87 plush with 88 tags
These are very early examples shortly after the 1987 small heart tush tag series. These are identifiable by their 1988 dated tush tag which seemed to coincide with the January 1988 catalog. These styles match those found in the 1988 catalog however Jake Jr. was already renamed Jake in the catalog and “BEANIE” the bear was renamed “BEANIE BEAR” Examples should include Angel, Peaches, Smokey, Ginger, Licorice, Al E. Kat, Shadow, Charlie, Fritz, Max, Super Max, Beanie Bear, McGee, Snowball, Blackie, Arnold, Mischief, Jake Junior, Super Jake and Lovie.
Style#
1001
1001H
1003
1003H
1005
1005H
1007
1007H
1009
1111
1112
1113*
2001
2002
3001
3002
5000
5001*
5002
5003
6001
7000
7001
7002
8001
Description
20″ white laying cat
20″ Himalayan cat
20″ cream laying cat
20″ Himalayan cat
20″ auburn laying cat
20″ Himalayan cat
20″ grey laying cat
20″ Himalayan cat
20″ black cat
20″ gold tabby cat
20″ flat tuxedo cat
20″ yellow lab
20″ laying dalmatian
20″ laying sheep dog
36″ laying sheep dog
8″ jointed tan bear
14″ brown bear
14″ white bear
14″ black bear
20″ laying pig
10″ white monkey
12″ white monkey
12″ white monkey
16: white monkey
20″ lamb
Variations
This section features the several variations released during these 1987 styles runs from 1987-1990. Dogs with tongues added, Beanie bear in Gold color, McGee with alternate fabric. Also seen below Mischief with cream face with solid black eyes and 1987 tush tag and Mischief Auburn and Mischief chocolate with solid black eyes.
Variations continued, the seated bears now with stitched smiles.
McGee, Snowball, Ping Pong and Cinnamon. Please note McGee and snowball have 1987 tush tags and Ping Pong and Cinnamon have 1988 tush tags but all are included here only because it is so satisfying to see them together.
Blackie is the only bear during this production as he did not have a stitched mouth. The exception being he had a stitched mouth during the ground nutshell production cycle which was not a smile.
88 plush with 87 tags
AL E. Kat Grey, Ping Pong, Kasey, Petunia, and Peter were originally issued with tush tags dated 1988 but were later released with tush tags dated 1987.
Jake in all sizes and mischief in auburn, brown and chocolate should have 1988 dated tush tags for the 1989 collection however all were issued with 1987 tush tag dates per their original patent date for the design in 1987 (Jake white).
Style#
5005
6001
7000A
7000B
7000C
7001A
7001B
7001C
7002A
7002B
7002C
8002
Description
panda bear
pig flat laying
10″ auburn money
10″ brown monkey
10″ chocolate monkey
12″ auburn money
12″ brown monkey
12″ chocolate monkey
16″ auburn money
16″ brown monkey
16″ chocolate monkey
brown laying rabbit
89 plush with 87 tags
Rosie was originally produced with a 1989 tush tag date and later released with a 1987 tush tag date.
