THE 1988 Collection

This will include all plush with the 1988 tush tag.

1988 Ty plush are identifiable by their 1988 dated tush tags. They were released with 1b and 1c (TYWL) hang tags for the 1988-1989 production year. Remember since these plush were initially released to the public mid-year 1988 the patent date for their designs are designated for 1988. These were typically “write in orders before the designs were officially released through the catalog the following year. This is why the tush tag is dated 1988 and they are officially part of the “1989 Collection” Ty catalog.

1989 was a BIG year for Ty. They made the cover for the 1989 Atlanta trade show program, and they were part of the trend of jungle theme plush that year.

During mid-year 1988 two designs were retired. These two designs were Shadow the tuxedo cat and Arnold the pig from the “1988 collection” (1987 dated tush plush).

*Carl is not a confirmed name for the panda seen below, this plush has not surfaced bearing its tag yet and so in an ode to a popular YouTube series the TyPlushArchive dubbed him “Carl” in playful humor. To be honest this design is most likely the first run of Ping Pong.

ANYONE WHO FINDS THIS PLUSH WITH TAG SHOULD CONTACT US HERE IMMEDIATELY TO PROPPERLY DOCUMENT HIS TRUE NAME 🙂

Style#-

1112

1114

1115

1116

1117

1118

5004

5005

5006

6001

7000A

7000B

7000C

7001A

7001B

7001C

7002A

7002B

7002C

8000

8002

9001

9002

9003

9004

Name

Al E. Kat

Chi Chi

Harris

Elmer

Freddie

Patti

Cinnamon

Ping Pong

Kasey

Petunia

Mischief

Jake

Big Jake

Beanie Bunny

Peter

Super Jake

Super Fritz

Super Petunia

Super Chi Chi

Description

grey tabby cat

Cheetah flat laying

lion flat laying

elephant flat laying

frog flat sitting

panther flat Laying

gold bear

panda bear

koala 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

jointed bunny

brown laying rabbit

55″ auburn monkey

36″ laying dalmatian

36″ laying pig

52″ laying cheetah

Variations

Freddie initially had cat eye like eyes now sports circular eyes retaining his crouching style briefly before moving to the sitting version. Harris right before becoming standing had some minor changes to his face and was given two fur colors to fill his mane. Patti went from flocked nose to plastic nose.

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.

Not pictured Blackie as he was was released and retired with no stitched mouth, the exception being he had a white stitched mouth during one production cycle, the ground nutshell shipment.

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.