Numbering Limited Editions

Hi, This may be an odd question and is more about collectibles than antiques.
Does anyone know what it means if a piece is numbered 1E of 500? Is it the first numbered piece because of the 1 or is the E part of some algorithm they use to number pieces?

Thanks in advance

 

can we see please

 

The type of object will make a difference. When I first read the subject line of this post I thought it might be a book or a work of art? And yes, pictures will help, since you are asking about a particular piece, @Mark Leinweber .

 

Ya think ?

 

Not always! But I did that time.

 

...............

 

for print portfolios perhaps ? one each ?

 

Not that special. Just a Hallmark Kiddie Car replica.. But I have seen this type of numbering on many different collectibles that were Limited Editions.

 

that could be a model number

 

The model number contains the G2203 The 1E is the number of the item out of 2164 made. Just not sure why it has an E.

 

Hello @Mark Leinweber & welcome to the forum!!

I think it means that this was the first run of this item & that there was going to be 2,164 in that run. The second run might have more or less than 2,164 or there might never have been a second run depending on how the first one sold.

 

"Numbered Editions: These individually numbered collectibles were issued in sequential production editions limited to 9,999 pieces. For example, a piece marked 2E/3255 means that this is the 3,255 piece of the second edition of that design. Numbered edition designs were available only until the announced retirement date.
http://marvmackey.com/Kiddie car.htm

So, your example would be #2164 of the 1st edition of the design.

 

Great, @bercrystal and @2manybooks ! I was wondering but hadn't found the information.

 

Thanks, That makes sense!

 

The system is different from what we see on limited edition prints, where the first number is the individual item number, and the number following the slash indicates the total number in the edition. In the case of these Hallmark collectibles, at least, the total number in the edition does not appear to be indicated on the item, just the individual number. Presumably the information regarding the total number in the edition is made available elsewhere (perhaps on the original box?).

 

I did the unthinkable and reached out to Hallmark. I received this reply.

Hi, Mark- We appreciate you reaching out about the retired Kiddie Car Classics. That would mean number 1 of 2164 for that car or plane. We hope that helps! Thank you!

 

I applaud your initiative.

But I am skeptical about that explanation. It leaves the "E" unexplained, and 2164 seems like a very odd total production number for a limited edition.

This particular version seems to have been produced in 1999, (retired in 2000). One source gives the full part number as "2500QHG2203".
https://www.hookedonhallmark.com/assets/images/pdfinventorylists/Kiddie Car Classics Collection Illustrated.pdf

I would like to see another example of the same item to see how the number is structured. For example, if you can find another one where all of the rest of the identification matches - 1999 Murray Inc, 1941 Murray Pursuit Airplane, QHG2203 - and see if it is, say, 400E/2164. Even finding examples such as "2E/1234" and "2E/3056" would help confirm the format suggested by the link I posted earlier - that the E stands for edition and the 4 digit number is the individual unit number.

So far, I have found 2E/3970, 3E/4874, 3E/9625, and 4E/8692. The fact that the first number, before the E, is always a single digit would seem to support the theory that that is an edition number, as well as the finding of two labeled 3E.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1188781677/hallmark-mini-kiddie-car-classics-1941?gpla=1&gao=1&

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265552905218?epid=1338723233&hash=item3dd42fc402:g:ykQAAOSw71hiDUVT

https://www.ebay.com/itm/232857612188?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1032823560/hallmark-mini-kiddie-car-classic-1941?gpla=1&gao=1&

I am going to stop obsessing about this now.

 

Glad you wrote this! I looked the other day and found some of those same examples. The explanation posted earlier, that the 1E means "1st Edition," makes sense. Especially given that some have 2E with smaller or larger numbers after.

 

I just looked at one my husband was given back in 2000. It is a 1958 Corvette & it is not marked like the one above. It is stamped 04211 - 29500.

I am assuming this one is #4,211 out of a possible 29,500.

 

From what I have been reading, there were various reissues of these collectibles, with different numbering systems. It is complicated.