serial numbers

On the bottom of the C. Alan Johnson Alaska Figurines you will usually find a number like AN-35 or O-72. This is a serial number that, with the figure it's painted on, is individual to that piece.

Beginning in 1972, with the letter "M", these serial numbers have been placed on every figure that leaves our studio. "M" would stand for 1972, "N" for 1973 and so on. In 1986 we returned to the beginning of the alphabet and used double letters. "AA" stands for 1986, "AB" for 1987 and so forth, until "AS" which stands for 2004, our current year.

The number refers to the order of production for that particular design in that particular year.

Here is an example: a "CORA" with the serial number V-151 will be the 151st "CORA" produced in 1981. An "AHTOON" with the serial number V-151 will be the 151st "AHTOON" produced in 1981. So there may be a number of figurines with the serial number V-151, but there will only be one "AHTOON" with that number, one "CORA", one "JOEY", etc.

Prior to 1972 there were no serial numbers. A collector with a figurine with no serial number can be sure that it was made prior to 1972.

If you have a figurine with a copyright date prior to 1962 you can be sure you have a very old one. In 1962 all of the figurine line was re-copyrighted. Before that year the figurines were copyrighted in the actual year which they were made. After 1962 each design is copyrighted in the year it was introduced or the year "1962", which ever is later.

A copyright of 1958 would mean that figurine was made in 1958, while a copyright of 1962, and no serial number, could mean the figurine was made anywhere between 1962 and 1971.

I hope this you have found this informative. If you have any questions regarding the numbering system please feel free to e-mail me.

In the first four years of business the figurines were copyrighted in the years they were made.
[1958] [1959] [1960] [1961]
Between 1962 and the present the copyright date refers to the copyright of the design rather then the actual year the figurine was made. Prior to 1972 the figurines just had the copyright date. A figurine with a copyright date on 1962 and no serial number may have been produced anywhere between the copyright date and 1972. In 1972 we introduced serial numbers with a letter code that represented the year the figurine was made. Letter codes as follows:
M	1972	N	1973	O	1974
P	1975	Q	1976	R	1977
S	1978	T	1979	U	1980
V	1981	W	1982	X	1983
Y	1984	Z	1985	AA	1986
AB	1987	AC	1988	AD	1989
AE	1990	AF	1991	AG	1992
AH	1993	AI	1994	AJ	1995
AK	1996	AL	1997	AM	1998
AN	1999	AO	2000	AP*	2001
AQ	2002	AR	2003	AS	2004
AT	2005	And that's all

*Do not confuse "AP" with "A/P".
"A/P" indicates "Artist Proof".
"AP" indicates the year 2001.