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Hummel Terms, Marks & Definitions.
Goebel & MI Hummel
MI Hummel Terms & Definitions
The terms and definitions below are strictly the opinions of e-Powersellers and should not be relied on as for insurance or appraisal. These guides are only to offer assistance in understanding basic terms and conditions. We realize that different people have different ways of grading or determining value. If there are any obvious omissions or errors and you are a qualified expert in your field, please contact us at info@e-Powersellers.com so we can adjust the guides accordingly
Baby Bee: is the trademark used in 1958, a
small bee flying in the V.
Closed Edition or CE: items no longer being producted
Crazing: Minute cracks in the glaze of the
figure. Many conditions can cause craszing,
some nature and some due to expose to high
heat or humidity.
Decimal Point: is used to in hopes to avoid
confusion on numbers that can be read upside
down i.e. 6. and 9. compared to 6 and 9 / 9
/ 6.
Double Crown: A trademark on MI Hummel
pieces where the crown is stamped and
incised.
Doughnut Base: is the raised circular
support on the underside of a figurine
Exclusive Edition or EE: is used to
represent any MI Hummel Club Figurine
Final Issue: is any piece that has been
retired from production
First Issue: is a new term started around
1990 to refer to any figure released during
the first year of production.
Faience: is an opaque colored glaze. Only a
few peices were made this way, early on in
Hummel's history.
Hollow Mold: is when the underside of the
figure is hollow and you can see inside the
cavity
Incised: is when the hallmarks or wording is
pressed into the figurine instead of being
stamped on the surface.
International Figurines: were produced in
the 1940s and were dressed in the typical
dress of that country
Limited Edition: is any piece that is
produced only in a limited quantity
Mold Number: is the incised number on the
bottom of each MI Hummel at the factory for
identification purpose.
Open Editions: are any piece that is
currently in production
Oversize: are any piece that is larger than
normal production pieces.
Reinstated: is any closed piece that was
brought back into production.
Sample Models: were only created as samples
and were never released into production.
Secondary Market: also known as aftermarket
is the resale of any pieces after the
initial sale is complete.
Temporarily Withdrawn / TW: are pieces that
are on hold or withdrawn from production and
may be produced again at a later time.
Terra Cotta: was the material used only a
few time on Hummel figures. Terra Cotta is a
reddish clay and the figures were released
unpainted.
Trademark (TM): Goebel used roughly eight marks
and symbols to date the MI Hummel pieces.
See bottom of this page for samples of these
marks.
US Zone: were made between 1946-1948 post
WWII before Germany was divided.
Waffle Base: is just a base that is divided
into 4 sections.
White Overglaze: are unpainted pieces that
have only been glazed and fired.
General Mark Dates
Trademark 1 – Hummel Crown – 1935-1955
Trademark 2 – Hummel Full Bee – 1950-1957
Trademark 3 – Hummel Stylized Bee –
1957-1964
Trademark 4 – Hummel Three Line – 1964-1972
Trademark 5 – Hummel Goebel Bee – 1972-1979
Trademark 6 – Goebel – 1979-1991
Trademark 7 – Goebel New Crown – 1991-1999
Trademark 8 – Goebel Current – 2000-Present
Hummel Marks
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 |
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| 1930's - 1950's | 1930's - 1950's | 1930's - 1950's |
| Crown Incised | Crown Stamped | Crown Wide |
 |
 |
 |
| 1946 - 1948 | 1946 - 1948 | 1946 - 1948 |
| US Zone Germany | US Zone Germany | US Zone Germany |
 |
 |
 |
| Bees 1950's - 1970's | Bees 1950's - 1970's | Bees 1950's - 1970's |
| The Full Bee Stamped | The Full Bee Incised | The High Bee Stamped |
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|
| Bees 1950's - 1970's | Bees 1950's - 1970's | Bees 1950's - 1970's |
| The V Bee Stamped | The Baby Bee Stamped | The Small Bee Stamped |
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 |
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| Bee Stylized 60's - Early 1970's | Bee Stylized 60's - Early 1970's | Bee Stylized 60's - Early 1970's |
| Stylized Bee - Large | Stylized Bee - Small | Triple 3-Line Mark |
 |
 |
 |
| 1970's Goebel Bee | 1979 - 1990 | 1991 - 1999 |
| Goebel With Bee | Goebel Without Bee | Goebel (new) With Bee |
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| CURRENT MARK |
More to come