Peanut the Elephant (Royal Blue)

The royal blue Peanut is the first version of the elephant and was on sale for four months. She was introduced on 3 June 1995 and retired on 2 October 1995, when Ty Warner changed the fabric to light blue because he believed the lighter colour would appeal more to children. Every royal blue Peanut carries a third generation swing tag and a first generation tush tag, and any other pairing is not a royal blue Peanut.

The light blue Peanut that replaced her ran until 1 May 1998. That is why the royal blue is the one to authenticate with care, and why the counterfeit list for her is longer than for the light blue.

The tush tag settles most questions. A royal blue Peanut must have the copyright year 1995 on its tush tag, and any other year makes it a counterfeit. The tag must be black and white. Some counterfeits carry a red and white tush tag. On a fake, the printing is bolder and the tag is slightly wider than it should be.

The elephant itself gives a few more checks. A counterfeit is smaller than an authentic one. Its fabric is rough, with a longer nap. Its trunk is shorter, and its ears are puckered where authentic ears are sewn smoothly.