A Comprehensive Site For Boyds Bearstones^TM

Reference / Value Guide & Secondary Market Resource

BEARSTONE^TM BASICS

GENERAL DEFINITIONS

SPECIAL OCCASION

Bearstones^TM that are issued for a specific occasion. To date the
following occasions have been produced: Valentine's Day,
Mother's Day, Easter, Halloween and Christimas.

These are classed as LEs by virtue of the fact that they are issued for a specific occasion only. Their production is limited by virtue of the number produced. Once produced each Special Occasion to date has been retired. The understamps of these Bearstones^TM have no numbers and only display the title Special Occasion. Actual production numbers are not known.

SPECIAL EVENT

Bearstones^TM that are issued or released once a year at a specific time, which is usually early in the Spring. The purpose is to allow the retailers to have a Special Event Day at their stores. The Bearstones^TM are to be sold only on that "Special Day". However, we have found some stores that are still selling them from 1997! How's that for the longest day?

Special Event Bearstones^TM are always denoted by the Style Number.
The style number begins with the year 01998 and then adds the
distinctive -71 tag, i.e., #01998-71 for the Special Event of 1998.

EXCLUSIVE

An issue of a Bearstone^TM that is reserved for a specific group. There are GCC Exclusives, POG Exclusives, NALED Exclusives, PEs as Exclusives and Special Issue in this category. These are also classed as LEs. These Bearstones^TM are NOT produced in regular edition.

MIB

An acronym for Mint-In-Box. Mint is somewhat commonly understood as perfect condition. There is some leeway for production errors or production defects, but not for defects that occur after production. With careful study you can tell the difference.
The part In-Box is an aspect of this designation you should become more acquainted with. In-Box, refering back to mint, indicates that this is the original box, certificate (card) and packing with no substantial defects for any of these. A somewhat worn box can be expected with older Bearstones^TM, but not new ones. The proper card is a must, especially for older Bearstones^TM. Sometimes, if noted, deviations from the original packing can be acceptable, but should resemble the original packing (new foam replacing old foam--not bubble wrap for replacing foam or styrofoam).
We have some discussion on requirements for MIB in the Understamps topic. To read about this go HERE

THB

An acronym for The Head Bean, which refers to the founder of Boyds^® Gary Lowenthal. It is his self appointed handle.

TBC

An acronym for The Boyds Collection^®.

HBM

An acronym for Head Bean Mistake. This is found on a second issue of the POG Exclusive Bailey...A Little Bit Of Honey (#94575POG).
This is an interesting little story. Seems that when they shipped these Bearstones^TM to the various retailers in the POG group they double shipped to some and others did not receive any of the Bearstones^TM. (The original edition was 20,000). So, in order to correct the situation, they produced some more Bearstones^TM (exactly the same) and on the understamp they put HBM. This issue was 5100.

PAW DEALER

This is a Boyds^® Company special designation for one of its retailer
affiliates. There are several of these designations by Boyds^® for its
retailers. There are Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Honorary
Redemption PAW Dealer designations. All of these received the
PAW title, because of the volume of merchandise they order from the
company. There are many dealers of Boyds^® who do not have these
titles. Having the Paw Dealer designation has several advantages,
including special PAW Exclusive issues, first shipment
of merchandise and a greater number of 1E and LE items.

The first PAW Exclusive Bearstones^TM are newly released this Fall of
2000. The understamp of these Bearstones^TM "bears" the PAW designation.
You can only purchase PAW Exclusives at a PAW Dealer.

PAW PRINT

Paw Print usually refers to the most idenifying characteristic of
a Boyds Bearstone^TM. It is a graphic of a bear paw print that is
either painted or imprinted & painted on the figure.
It looks like this:

^®

when it is imprinted and painted on the stone. If you find this on
the Bearstone^TM then you know that it is genuine!

Notice that it has five toes, it is always painted black and sometimes
it is hard to find.

PEs AS EXCLUSIVES

This is our own tag for the time being. It refers to Premier Editions that are denoted on the understamp as Premier Editions, but are later advertised as or become Exclusives when a regular edition is not issued.

LB

Notation at the end of the Style Number denoting the distributor of a Bearstone^TM. LB stands for the Longaberger Company. First introduced in 2000.

CA

Notation at the end of the Style Number denoting the distributor of a Bearstone^TM. CA stands for Carlton Cards. First introduced in 2000.

PO

Notation at the end of the Style Number denoting the distributor of a Bearstone^TM. PO stands for Plus One, the Canadian central distribution center. First introduced in 1999.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Try one of these subjects below.

Have you read
The Intelligent Collector Series?

These subjects will get you started in the wonderful world of
collecting Boyds Bearstones^TM!

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