You remember the 90s. The frantic energy of toy store aisles. People literally diving over plastic bins for a pellet-stuffed moose. It was a fever dream, honestly. If you weren't there, it’s hard to explain how a five-dollar plushie became a legitimate investment strategy for suburban families.
But let’s talk about a specific corner of that obsession: the birthdays.
Every Beanie Baby had one. It was printed right there on the inside of the heart-shaped Ty tag, usually next to a little four-line poem that ranged from "sweet" to "clearly written in five minutes." For some reason, specific dates stick in people's minds. Maybe it’s your birthday. Maybe it's your kid's.
Lately, people are digging into the Jan 7 Beanie Baby history. If you've been scouring eBay or your parents' attic for a January 7th connection, you're likely looking for one of two very different characters: Herald the Bear or Muffin the Beanie Boo.
Meet Herald: The Angel of January 7
If you’re a purist, Herald is your guy. He isn't one of the "Original Nine" from the 1993 launch, but he holds a special place in the early 2000s era of Ty.
Herald is an angel bear. He’s white, fluffy, and sports these iridescent, shimmering wings that were a big hit with collectors who liked the more "thematic" beanies. His official Date of Birth is January 7, 2002.
Now, look. Herald isn't going to pay for your retirement. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. During the peak "Beanie Bubble," everyone thought these things would be worth a fortune. In reality, by the time Herald was released in 2002, the market was already starting to cool off from its 1998-1999 zenith.
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Why collectors still hunt for Herald
Despite not being a "million-dollar" toy, Herald is a staple for birth-date collectors. People love to buy the bear that matches their own birthday. It’s personal.
- The Look: He has a classic teddy bear face but with that spiritual, angelic twist.
- The Wings: They have a specific holographic sheen that looks great in a display case.
- The Availability: Because he was released later in the game, he's relatively easy to find in "Mint" condition with the tags still attached (often called MWMT—Mint With Mint Tags).
You can usually snag a Herald for anywhere between $5 and $15. If someone is trying to sell you one for $500 on a Facebook marketplace, they’re either misinformed or hopeful. Check the "Sold" listings on eBay to see the real truth. That's the only way to get an honest price check.
Muffin: The Modern January 7 Connection
If your "Jan 7 Beanie Baby" looks less like a traditional teddy bear and more like a wide-eyed creature with massive, glittery eyes, you’re looking at Muffin.
Muffin is a Beanie Boo. This is the "Gen Z" version of the Beanie Baby. While the original line was all about realism (sort of), Beanie Boos went full anime. Muffin is a cat—specifically a black and white cat with big pink glitter eyes.
Muffin’s birthday is January 7, 2012. The Beanie Boo craze actually revitalized the Ty brand when everyone thought it was dead. While the 90s kids were busy trying to sell their "Princess Diana" bears for thousands, a new generation started obsessing over the "Boos." Muffin is a fan favorite because, well, black cats are cool.
The Mystery of "January the Birthday Bear"
Sometimes people get confused and look for a beanie literally named after the month. There is a bear named January, but it’s part of the "Birthday Bear" series released around 2001.
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Here is the kicker: January the Birthday Bear doesn't actually have a specific day-of-the-month birthday. His tag usually just says his "birthstone" is Garnet and he represents the whole month. However, because his name is January, people often associate him with January 1st or January 7th. If you see a bear with a dark red nose (representing the garnet birthstone), that’s him. He’s cute, but he’s not the specific Jan 7 representative that Herald is.
Is your Jan 7 Beanie Baby worth anything?
Basically, probably not.
I know, it’s a bummer. We all wanted our collections to be our 401ks. But the "Beanie Baby Bubble" is one of the most famous examples of a market collapse in history.
For a Jan 7 Beanie Baby like Herald to be worth more than a sandwich, it usually needs to have a major manufacturing error. We’re talking:
- Tag Errors: A "tush tag" that says a different name than the "swing tag."
- Location Gaps: A tag that says "Gasport" instead of "Gosport."
- Physical Oddities: Missing wings or a completely different color of thread.
Even then, the market for "errors" is niche. Most collectors just want a clean, dust-free bear that looks good on a shelf.
How to spot a fake (Yes, they exist)
Back in the day, people actually counterfeited these things. Imagine being a high-stakes plushie smuggler. Wild.
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If you're looking at a Herald or a Muffin and the fabric feels "crunchy" or the heart on the tag looks blurry, it might be a knockoff. Real Ty products from that era use a very specific "Velvetine" or plush fabric. The tags should have a sharp, clear gold foil around the edges.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
If you've found a Jan 7 Beanie Baby in your house, here is exactly what you should do:
Check the "Swing Tag" (The Heart One)
If the tag is bent, creased, or missing, the value drops to almost zero for collectors. Use a plastic "tag protector" if you want to keep it pristine. You can buy these in bulk for cheap.
Look at the Tush Tag
Check the year. Herald should say 2002. Muffin should say 2012. If the years don't match the birthdays, you might have an "oddity" which could—maybe—be worth a few extra bucks to a specialist.
Check eBay "Completed" Items
Don't look at what people are asking for. Look at what people actually paid. If three Heralds sold for $8 last week, your Herald is worth $8. Simple math.
Wash with Care
If you’re giving a Jan 7 Beanie to a kid to actually play with (revolutionary idea, I know), don't throw it in the washing machine. The pellets inside can sometimes break down or get moldy if they don't dry perfectly. Surface wash only with a damp cloth and a bit of mild soap.
Whether you're celebrating a January 7th birthday or just trying to finish a collection, these little guys are a piece of pop culture history. They represent a time when the world felt a little smaller, and the most stressful thing in our lives was finding out if the local Hallmark had the new shipment of bears.
Keep your tags protected and your shelves dusted. Even if they aren't worth a million dollars, the nostalgia is worth plenty.