Humphrey the Camel

Humphrey holds a distinction no other Beanie Baby can take from him: he was the first one Ty officially retired. He lasted less than a year, from June 1994 to June 1995, which is why he is scarce in a way that later retirements never quite replicate.

Counterfeits are the main risk. A genuine Humphrey has a prominent forehead where the fake head is closer to a barrel shape, and his fur is a deeper shade than the lighter counterfeit plush. Two details settle it quickly: a real Humphrey never has two-tone eyes, and his ears sit higher on the head and larger than the undersized ears a fake carries. Thin legs are another tell.

One documented oddity exists, a Humphrey with a rear leg sewn on backwards.