What is the rarest Jellycat?

As things increase in popularity, so does the number of serious collectors – and Jellycat toys are no different.

Now, what people collect tends to be quite personal, it might centre around a specific theme, animal, or even a particular launch that they specifically enjoyed.

Others, however, focus on rarity and value – because what the toy is now worth can change considerably based on how many are available on the open market.

So, what is the rarest Jellycat?

The rarest Jellycats we know of

Although ever-changing, there are currently two main camps of rare Jellycats, those from people’s childhoods and Bashful Bunnies.

Childhood favourites

Jellycat started producing quirky but high-quality soft toys in 1999. As such, perhaps unsurprisingly, the very earliest toys from their first few years (1999 – 2005) are popular with collectors concerned with rarity. 

This is because:

• They produced fewer designs in that time
• The earliest designs may be of a slightly lower quantity compared to the toys nowadays – meaning that not as many have survived

How to find your childhood favourites

If you want to find a Jellycat from this period, you could try searching for ‘retired Jellycats’ or  ‘Jellycat toys’ followed by the date you are after specifically.

However, you should be aware that to check the details of toys made pre-2010, you will need to contact Jellycat themselves with a picture or a batch code to be sure they are genuine – which can be time-consuming.

Popular Jellycat designs from this time include:

• Puffball Big or Baby Frog (1999)
• Puffball Donkey (1999)
• Rumble Tumble Dog (2000)
• Gregory Cat with Mouse (2000)
• Cream Pom Pom Cat (2001)
• Puffball Fox (2001-2003)
• Pootlin Horse (2002)
• Furcoat Sheep (2002-2005)
• Lollopy Lamb (2005)

Special edition Bashful Bunnies

Almost synonymous with the brand because of their vast range and popularity, Bashful Bunnies are beloved.

Thanks to the frequency of the release of Bashful Bunnies, Jellycat has created a roaring collectors trade, especially with plushies and soft toys that are deemed special editions, as these often have shorter production runs.

Some of the most popular special edition Bashful Bunnies include:

• Imogen

Available in soft pink with long, curly fur.

• Lucie

Has a trendy grey coat with bright pink hearts strewn like confetti across it.

• Natalia

Can be found with a muted rainbow stripe in a knitted fabric instead of the usual curls or fur associated with the range.

• Jamie

Has a bright purple and pink marbled colouring in a long, curly style – similar to Imogen Bashful Bunny.

• Emily

With a red rose-coloured fur with a crimped style often seen in the more modern Fuddlewuddle range.  

• Eddy

Like Emily, Eddy has a similar crimped style of fur that comes in an exotic grey-black colour.

And finally, although not technically a Bashful Bunny, we have to give a special shoutout to the dishevelled but delightful Roberta Rabbit. 

• Roberta Rabbit

With a cream-coloured, long-haired coat, black button eyes, and a sweet pink nose, Roberta is impossible to resist.

How to find special edition Bashful Bunnies

Thanks to the addition of ‘special edition’ in the title, it can be quite easy to locate specific Bashful Bunnies either online or from specific retailers.

If you find yourself searching for Jellycat toys that are considered general release, you could add the date the plushie was retired.

Jellycat toys for all

Whether you are a long-term collector, just discovering the brand, or want to expand your interest into a proper collection, being choosy about your investment can be a smart way to go – especially if you plan to sell them in future.

To find out more about Jellycat toys, why not speak to the experienced team at Jeremy’s Home Store – as official suppliers there isn’t much we don’t know!

You can visit us at our quirky store in Tunbridge Wells, give us a call on 01892 525 976, or send an email to online@jeremyshomestore.co.uk.