Making the grade: How To Grade Your Hummel Figurines. Free grading guide.

Jon R Warren

These grades describe how worn a figurine is. They follow rules used for years to keep things clear when buying, selling, or talking about Hummels. Grading helps with consistency in the buying, selling, and advertising of Hummel figurines.

Unused Grades

The term UNUSED refers to a piece which has never been used. It has never been handled, displayed or removed from its packaging. The unused grades range from a perfect A+ to an unused but showing faint signs of age without crazing or fading (B). Unused figurines can be divided into four major grades:

A+

Mint in Box (OMP)
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 10.
Perfect, i.e. - in OMP (original manufacture's packaging). brilliant, unusually bright, as new. Example is in brand new condition, includes the original box and all original paperwork (if applicable) included in the box at the time of original purchase. The box itself is in near-perfect condition and contains little, if any flaws. The item inside the box is in brand new condition and has no flaws.
Seldom used by professionals since it represents perfection...and perfection is extremely rare.

A

Mint or aka M
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 9.
Virtually flawless but lacking the OMP (original manufacturer's packaging). Superb. Example is in like new condition, may or may not include the original box (if applicable) and may or may not include original paperwork (if applicable) that was included in the box at the time of original purchase. The box itself is in almost new condition but may possess a few minor flaws such as light corner dings, small creases in the box or even small scratches on the box. The item inside the box is in brand new condition and has no flaws.

A-

Near Mint or NM
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 8.
Almost perfect. Item may have very slight fading in an unobtrusive area of the item, but otherwise without any scratches, chips, nicks, dings, flakes, fading, or other flaws. Deep, rich color with excellent original patina and gloss.

B+

Very Fine or VF
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 7.
An exceptional example. Acceptable to all but the most finicky collector. This is a sharp, almost perfect example. The item may have very minor crazing but not on the face. The bottom of base may have numerous crazing cracks in the glaze. Otherwise, the item has no major defects but may not be quite as bright as Near Mint. May or May Not have original box.

B

Fine Very Fine or FVF
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 6.
Slightly worn. Although this example may or may not include the original box (if applicable, many early Hummels never came in a box), it also may or may not include original paperwork (if applicable) included in the box at the time of original purchase. If the box itself is present, it may not be in ideal condition The box most likely has several creases, tears, scratches, etc. However, the item inside the box is in almost new condition and has no chips, color flakes, or cracks. It may, however, have very slight crazing (hairline spiderweb thin cracks in the glaze).

Used Grades

Hummels that have been handled and played with by the children are considered USED. They have been in circulation, meaning they have been handled, fondled, admired, and carried (like they were supposed to be) sometimes for decades. As a result, they are worn to one degree or another. Collectors have established the following grades for rating just how used an item actually is:

C+

Fine or F
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 5.
Still quite fine without chips, cracks, color flakes or visible damage of any kind, but age crazing in a more significant amount than in the FVF grade.

C

Very Good or VG
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 4.
This example may have a minor color flake or two, some crazing, or a color scratch but has no major flaws such as chips or cracks or repairs.

C-

Good to Very Good or GD/VG
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 3.
Beginning to show signs of significant wear. Worn paint. Color flakes. Crazing to a degree that affects eye appeal. Scratches. But still, no repairs or cracks.

D

Good or GD
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 2.
A worn, crazed, flaked example. This example is in visibly worn condition, and could have one or two minor flaws which may include small scratches or light paint wear. However, this does not includes cracks, chips or any missing pieces. The original box and any accompanying paperwork may or may not be present. Typically a filler-copy only.

D-

Fair or FR
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 1.
The lower grades are separated by degrees of damage. The accumulation of many defects lowers the item from the 3 grade down to the 2. This example is in used, displayed or handled condition. It most likely has been handled and may contain scratches, paint wear, minor chips, dings or even small cracks.

F

Poor or PR
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 0.
Extremely worn, damaged or incomplete, although such should be noted. This example is in distressed condition... It may contain scratches, paint wear, chips, dings, cracks and/or missing pieces.