Ty Beanie Baby Hoot the Owl with Graduation Cap (Dated '98)

This item is a plush toy depicting an owl, specifically 'Hoot' from the Ty Beanie Babies collection, distinguished by a graduation cap. The owl features a brown body with a lighter, off-white to cream-colored belly and face. Its eyes are round and black, and it possesses a small, orange fabric beak. The most prominent accessory is a black, felt-like graduation cap perched on its head, which features embroidered numbers '97' and '98' (though '97' is partially obscured) in white thread, indicating a graduation year of 1998. The feet are a light brown or tan fabric and are flat, allowing the toy to sit upright. A classic Ty heart-shaped 'swing tag' is attached to its left wing (viewer's right), which is enclosed in a plastic protector, a common practice among collectors to preserve the tag's condition. The tag is red with a white 'Ty' logo and a yellow star, indicating it's an authentic Beanie Baby. The plush material appears soft and well-maintained, with no visible tears, stains, or significant wear. The overall construction suggests a mass-produced collectible toy from the late 1990s, known for its small plastic pellets (beans) filling. The condition of the tag suggests it has been handled with care, which is a key factor in the value of Beanie Babies. The item appears to be in very good, possibly like-new, condition.