"There has never been a craze like Beanie Babies. The $5 beanbag animals with names like Seaweed the Otter and Gigi the Poodle drove a large swath of America into a greed-fueled frenzy as they chased the rarest Beanie Babies, whose values escalated weekly in the late 1990s. Just as strange as the mass hysteria was the man behind it. Sometimes called the "Steve Jobs of plush" by his employees, he obsessed over every detail of every animal his company ever released. He had no marketing budget and no connections, but he had something more valuable - an intuitive grasp of human psychology that would make him the richest man in the history of toys. The Great Beanie Baby Bubble is a classic American story of people winning and losing vast fortunes chasing what one dealer remembers as "the most spectacular dream ever sold.""--Back cover.

This must-have Beanie Boo collector's guide is full of fun facts and insider information about all 200+ plush Boos. Learn what Dotty, the multi-colored leopard, does in her spare time, or what Gilbert, the giraffe, eats for breakfast. Filled with pictures of these big-eyed beauties, this guidebook is perfect for anyone starting their own colorful collection.

Collector handbook and price guide.

Up-to-date winter 1999 secondary market values for each swing tag genertion!Pictures, poems & birthdates for the 10 September releases!Info about the 13 new retirements!The first look at Ty's newest line, Beanie Babies!