Bow Tie (Classic)

Caden Dickinson
Apr 14
6 min read

Updated: Jul 26

CHARACTER(S): Bowtie

YEAR OF PRODUCTION: 1983, 1984

PLACE OF PRODUCTION: Hong Kong

MANUFACTURING COMPANY: Hasbro

TYPICAL PRICE ONLINE: $15 - $25 USD

OTHER COMMENTS/INFO:

Release Info

Bow Tie was part of the second pony set ever released, right at the beginning of Year 2 (late 1983).
- This is sometimes called the second "Earth Pony" set because all the ponies were Earth Ponies - just as they were in the original MLP set before it. The reason this distinction is important is because there was a third all-Earth Pony set in Year 4, although MLP released non Earth Ponies by this point.
- This set also included Bubbles, Applejack, Seashell + Cotton Candy and Blossom, who were re-releases from the first set
She then had a second release, in Year 3, as part of the third Earth Pony set, along with Cherries Jubilee, Lickety-Split, Posey, and Tootsie + re-release Applejack
She had a re-release by Basic Fun

Other Info

There is a Baby Bow Tie!
There is a G3 pony named Bowtie (one word)

Media:

Bow Tie was one of the ponies that appeared in "Rescue at Midnight Castle", the first My Little Pony TV Special
Adorably, Bow Tie has extra ribbons in her mane in animated form!
She appears in the G1-G4 Comic Book Crossover

Personality: Bow Tie is one of the more calm and level-headed ponies. She is patient, gentle, and kind. She loves ribbons and bows and as such loves decorating.

Bow Tie is depicted in the UK Comics as being best friends with Applejack. Because of this, she and AJ are often paired up together in G1 merch from the UK, such as with much of the party supplies by Cross Paperware
Bow Tie is also frequently depicted in merchandise alongside Cotton Candy, though I'm unsure where this association comes from

Her US Backcard writes: Bow-Tie was feeling sad. "I don't think anyone has remembered my birthday," she whinnied. Suddenly, Firefly swooped down from the sky with hundreds of colorful ribbons trailing behind. Medley floated down on a cloud, and the song Happy Birthday was heard all around. Ribbons were everywhere, hanging from the clouds and floating on the wind. Everyone brought presents. Bow-Tie eagerly opened them and found ribbons of velvet, satin and silk - in every color of the rainbow! "Thank you, thank you all," she said. "I'll always wear your beautiful ribbons!"

Her UK Backcard writes: Bow Tie loves ribbons, ribbons tied in bows and on packages, silky ribbons, satin ribbons and ribbons every colour of the rainbow. She especially likes to have her hair braided with ribbon, with an extra ribbon tied in a bow at the end!

Her German Backcard Writes: Es war ein schooner Frühlingsabend, aber es war schon sehr dunkel. Das kleine Pony fürchtete sich und sagte: “Lieber Mond, kannst Du mir bitte ein paar Freunde schicken, damit ich nicht so alleine bin”? Kurz darauf kamen viele kleine Ponys aus dem Wald und jedes hatte ein bunte Laterne mitgebracht. Nun war die Nacht nicht mehr so dunkle und Pony blinzelte zum Mond hinauf uns sagte leise: “Danke, lieber Mond.”

-- Translation: It was a beautiful spring evening, but it was already very dark. The little pony was scared and said, "Dear Moon, can you please send me some friends so I'm not alone?" Shortly thereafter, many small ponies came out of the forest and each had brought a colorful lantern. Now the night was not so dark and Pony blinked up to the moon and said softly: "Thank you, dear moon."

Her Peruvian Pamphlet Story writes: Bow Tie en el día de su cumpleaños, recibió hermosos regalos como cintas de colores, en terciopelo, raso y seda pero déjenme contar cuál fue el regalo más grande que jamás imaginó recibir. Ella que admiraba y quería tanto a Glory fue transformada por un mágico destello del Arco Iris en un bellísimo unicornio. Al mirarse en el espejo no podía creer que luciera tan bella con sus lazos de colores y su nueva apariencia. Gracias, gracias gritaba Bow Tie emocionada. Nunca olvidaré este mágico y feliz cumpleaños

-- Translation: Bow Tie, on the day of her birthday, received beautiful gifts, such as colorful ribbons of velvet, satin, and silk, but let me tell you what was the greatest gift you could ever imagine. She who admired and wanted Glory so much was transformed by a magical rainbow flash into a beautiful unicorn. Looking at herself in the mirror, she could not believe that she looked so beautiful with her color bows and her new appearance. "Thank you, thank you!" Bow Tie excitedly shouted. "I will never forget this magic and happy birthday."

First Edition (Year 2)

She has straight hair (By G1 Standards - Was not given factory curls)
There are two variations - one is a darker blue and one is a lighter blue. It's unclear what the reason for the variations is
She came with a yellow ribbon & a yellow hair brush

Image sources:

My Little Wiki
eBay
eBay - Your Shop Hero
eBay - jlpcolo
Poshmark - yecart

Second Edition (Year 3)

In this release she has factory curls, which her previous one did not
Her hair is longer than the previous release, although this isn't obvious unless it's straightened out
She came with a white ribbon & Purple hair brush

Image sources:

2nd Edition Bow Tie In Europe:

(Euro Collector's Pose Bow Tie)

The UK got the regular second MLP set. Just like in the US, it was just titled "My Little Pony", but you could tell the 6 ponies were part of the same set because of them having the same packaging and release date.
The US got the same treatment for the third Earth Pony set, but in the UK it was given a moniker - "Groom and Style".
- Additionally, Bow Tie got a bit of a style change. In the original set, she and Applejack were both in the "Shy Pose". This was the case in both the US and UK. But in the UK edition of the second set, they were put in the Collector's Pose.
- She was sold with a white ribbon and purple brush, same is 2nd edition US Bow Tie
Collector's Pose UK Bow Tie is sort of like an honorary Nirvana, because of her region-based design difference, but she was made in Hong Kong just like standard MLPs, so is not a "full" Nirvana.
- While mostly associated with the UK, she is also called Euro Bow Tie, because she was sold outside of the UK as well
- She was sold in France, Italy, and Germany
- The Hong Kong made version was sold in the UK, but there was also a Collector's Pose Bow Tie made in Italy. This version was sold in Italy of course, but also is believed to be the version that was sold in Germany.
- I'll refer to the Hong Kong version as Euro Bow Tie, and the Italian made version as Italy Collector's Bow Tie.
- The only notable difference between the two besides country of origin seems to be cutie mark color
- It appears Spain may have also produced their own Collector's pose Bow Tie
- There is also a Collector's Pose Bow Tie made in Argentina
The Collector's Pose Hong-Kong made Bow Tie appeared again in 1986 in Germany, despite not being featured on the card she was sold on. The card she was sold on was not resemblant of the US Earth Pony cards, nor the UK Groom and Style cards, although it did resemble other UK backcards. There was no series title name. It appears this version may have also been sold in Belgium.
- There was a version of her sold in Germany on the Groom and Style card back when the original Groom and Style was released. This version had an orange comb and yellow bow, but was otherwise the same as the UK one outside of translated packaging.
- The Mystery German version uses the My Little Pony logo, whereas the Groom & Style German version uses the usual German Mein Kleines Pony logo
This Bow Tie had longer, curly hair just like the 2nd edition US Bow Tie did
- This applies to both the Euro and Italy versions
Because she uses the collector's pose, her hoof is marked with 1982

Image Sources:

1st Edition Bow Tie Alternate Packaging

1st Edition Bow Tie packaging in different countries
The 1st Edition Bow Ties sold in Italy, Belgium, and France were made in Italy, but had no notable difference from Hong Kong Bow Tie other than cutie mark color
- There are multiple Bow Tie Nirvana variants from Italy, so Italy Nirvanas will still get their own post for her, despite also being talked about here