U.S. Patent Numbers
1836: 1-109
1837: 110-545
1838: 546-1,105
1839: 1,106-1,464
1840: 1,465-1,922
1841: 1,923-2,412
1842: 2,413-2,900
1843: 2,901-3,394
1844: 3,395-3,872
1845: 3,873-4,347
1846: 4,348-4,913
1847: 4,914-5,408
1848: 5,409-5,992
1849: 5,993-6,980
1850: 6,981-7,864
1851: 7,865-8,560
1852: 8,561-9,306
1853: 9,307-10,194
1854: 10,195-12,116
1855: 12,117-14,008
1856: 14,009-15,691
1857: 15,692-18,092
1858: 18,093-21,113
1859: 21,114-26,641
1860: 26,642-31,004
1861: 31,005-34,324
1862: 34,325-38,180
1863: 38,181-41,233
1864: 41,234-44,912
1865: 44,913-49,277
1866: 49,278-53,915
1867: 53,916-61,288
1868: 61,289-80,100
1869: 80,101-98,459
1870: 98,460-110,616
1871: 110,617-125,476
1872: 125,477-138,876
1873: 138,877-154,059
1874: 154,060-166,617
1875: 166,618-181,015
1876: 181,016-194,506
1877: 194,507-207,641
1878: 207,642-215,096
1879: 215,097-223,210
1880: 223,211-236,136
1881: 236,137-248,984
1882: 248,985-266,525
1883: 266,526-287,387
1884: 287,388-308,668
1885: 308,669-326,825
1886: 326,826-345,316
1887: 345,317-364,694
1888: 364,695-385,778
1889: 385,779-418,664
1890: 418,665-443,995
1891: 443,996-462,799
1892: 462,800-484,570
1893: 484,571-508,563
1894: 508,564-529,190
1895: 529,191-550,068
1896: 550,069-571,176
1897: 571,177-591,871
1898: 591,872-613,759
1899: 613,760-640,166
1900: 640,167-664,821
1901: 664,822-688,874
1902: 688,875-712,674
1903: 712,675-735,213
1904: 735,214-775,513
1905: 775,514-812,711
1906: 812,712-847,277
1907: 847,278-886,958
1908: 886,959-915,845
1909: 915,846-945,060
1910: 945,061-980,177
1911: 980,178-1,001,534
1912: 1,001,535-1,047,142
1913: 1,047,143-1,089,386
1914: 1,089,387-1,141,760
1915: 1,141,761-1,172,441
1916: 1,172,442-1,209,764
1917: 1,209,765-1,255,186
1918: 1,255,187-1,281,612
1919: 1,281,613-1,326,898
1920: 1,326,899-1,364,032
1921: 1,364,033-1,386,351
1922: 1,386,352-1,421,442
1923: 1,421,443-1,463,546
1924: 1,463,547-1,507,680
1925: 1,507,681-1,536,714
1926: 1,536,715-1,579,632
1927: 1,579,633-1,625,017
1928: 1,625,018-1,672,883
1929: 1,672,884-1,746,438
1930: 1,746,439-1,803,722
1931: 1,803,723-1,860,801
1932: 1,860,802-1,890,968
1933: 1,890,969-1,946,434
1934: 1,946,435-1,999,403
1935: 1,999,404-2,043,548
1936: 2,043,549-2,086,737
1937: 2,086,738-2,123,600
1938: 2,123,601-2,158,233
1939: 2,158,234-2,190,597
1940: 2,190,598-2,231,071
1941: 2,231,072-2,270,431
1942: 2,270,432-2,310,356
1943: 2,310,357-2,345,317
1944: 2,345,318-2,366,153
1945: 2,366,154-2,403,478
1946: 2,403,479-2,433,454
1947: 2,433,455-2,461,291
1948: 2,461,292-2,491,913
1949: 2,491,914-2,492,943
1950: 2,492,944-2,531,921
1951: 2,531,922-2,573,946
1952: 2,573,947-2,617,890
1953: 2,617,891-2,665,533
1954: 2,665,534-2,702,998
1955: 2,702,999-2,737,793
1956: 2,737,794-2,775,796
1957: 2,775,797-2,823,421
1958: 2,823,422-2,867,227
1959: 2,867,228-2,919,442
1960: 2,919,443-2,954,036
1961: 2,954,037-2,989,514
1962: 2,989,515-3,018,174
1963: 3,018,175-3,108,568
1964: 3,108,569-3,171,050
1965: 3,171,051-3,234,257
1966: 3,234,258-3,297,864
1967: 3,297,865-3,351,342
1968: 3,351,343-3,422,581
1969: 3,422,582-3,487,469
1970: 3,487,470-3,540,735
1971: 3,540,736-3,624,125
1972: 3,624,126-3,708,683
1973: 3,708,684-3,777,114
1974: 3,777,115-3,857,130
1975: 3,857,131-3,925,777
1976: 3,925,778-3,996,585
1977: 3,996,586-4,053,653
1978: 4,053,654-4,116,462
1979: 4,116,463-4,181,999
1980: 4,182,000-4,239,854
1981: 4,239,855-4,287,528
1982: 4,287,529-4,348,633
1983: 4,348,634-4,394,767
1984: 4,394,768-4,475,197
1985: 4,475,198-4,545,000
1986: 4,545,001-4,623,922
1987: 4,623,923-4,698,672
1988: 4,698,673-4,778,044
1989: 4,778,045-4,891,845
1990: 4,891,846-4,995,238
1991: 4,995,239-5,073,985
1992: 5,073,986-5,137,480
1993: 5,137,481-5,264,000
1994: 5,264,001-5,368,050
1995: 5,368,051-5,477,175
1996: 5,477,176-5,584,312
1997: 5,584,313-5,706,950
1998: 5,706,951-5,845,265
1999: 5,845,266-6,012,173
2000: 6,012,174-6,155,290
2001: 6,155,291-6,327,481
2002: 6,327,482-6,494,162
2003: 6,494,163-6,658,464
2004: 6,658,465-6,823,868
2005: 6,823,869-6,974,357
2006: 6,974,358-7,149,567
2007: 7,149,568-7,314,311
2008: 7,314,312-7,486,416
2009: 7,486,417-7,640,599
2010: 7,640,600-7,854,170
2011: 7,854,171-8,068,821
2012: 8,068,822-8,327,537
2013: 8,327,538-8,615,473
2014: 8,615,474-8,927,367
2015: 8,927,368-9,160,280
2016: 9,160,281-9,522,261
2017: 9,522,262-9,854,578
2018: 9,854,579-10,177,584
2019: 10,177,585-10,538,967
2020: 10,538,968-10,881,494
2021: 10,881,495-11,193,496
2022: 11,193,497-11,522,916
2023: 11,522,917-11,854,693
2024: 11,854,694-12,000,000+
Canadian Patent Numbers
1869: 1-204
1870: 205-781
1871: 782-1,635
1872: 1,636-2,601
1873: 2,602-3,318
1874: 3,319-4,216
1875: 4,217-5,475
1876: 5,476-7,152
1877: 7,153-8,084
1878: 8,085-9,467
1879: 9,468-10,777
1880: 10,778-12,714
1881: 12,715-14,610
1882: 14,611-16,604
1883: 16,605-18,447
1884: 18,448-20,832
1885: 20,833-23,386
1886: 23,387-25,620
1887: 25,621-28,163
1888: 28,164-30,494
1889: 30,495-33,253
1890: 33,254-35,873
1891: 35,874-38,933
1892: 38,934-41,863
1893: 41,864-44,797
1894: 44,798-47,789
1895: 47,790-50,865
1896: 50,866-54,251
1897: 54,252-57,501
1898: 57,502-60,680
1899: 60,681-65,594
1900: 65,595-70,752
1901: 70,753-76,365
1902: 76,366-81,624
1903: 81,625-87,490
1904: 87,491-93,782
1905: 93,783-99,533
1906: 99,534-105,447
1907: 105,448-111,298
1908: 111,299-117,150
1909: 117,151-123,027
1910: 123,028-129,460
1911: 129,461-135,360
1912: 135,361-141,418
1913: 141,419-147,173
1914: 147,174-152,995
1915: 152,996-158,879
1916: 158,880-165,210
1917: 165,211-171,516
1918: 171,517-177,537
1919: 177,538-183,942
1920: 183,943-190,494
1921: 190,495-197,464
1922: 197,465-204,389
1923: 204,390-211,791
1924: 211,792-218,695
1925: 218,696-225,913
1926: 225,914-233,010
1927: 233,011-240,425
1928: 240,426-247,708
1929: 247,709-255,544
1930: 255,545-263,641
1931: 263,642-271,431
1932: 271,432-279,295
1933: 279,296-286,410
1934: 286,411-293,461
1935: 293,462-300,800
1936: 300,801-308,446
1937: 308,447-315,756
1938: 315,757-323,063
1939: 323,064-330,767
1940: 330,768-338,483
1941: 338,484-346,154
1942: 346,155-353,759
1943: 353,760-361,010
1944: 361,011-368,881
1945: 368,882-376,899
1946: 376,900-385,098
1947: 385,099-393,513
1948: 393,514-401,972
1949: 401,973-410,557
1950: 410,558-419,130
1951: 419,131-428,304
1952: 428,305-437,842
1953: 437,843-447,213
1954: 447,214-456,856
1955: 456,857-466,645
1956: 466,646-476,630
1957: 476,631-486,710
1958: 486,711-496,844
1959: 496,845-507,381
1960: 507,382-518,511
1961: 518,512-529,908
1962: 529,909-541,109
1963: 541,110-552,967
1964: 552,968-564,507
1965: 564,508-576,469
1966: 576,470-588,679
1967: 588,680-601,131
1968: 601,132-613,446
1969: 613,447-626,691
1970: 626,692-640,406
1971: 640,407-654,476
1972: 654,477-669,294
1973: 669,295-684,900
1974: 684,901-700,337
1975: 700,338-716,660
1976: 716,661-733,147
1977: 733,148-750,635
1978: 750,636-768,954
1979: 768,955-787,683
1980: 787,684-807,116
1981: 807,117-827,304
1982: 827,305-848,256
1983: 848,257-869,619
1984: 869,620-891,908
1985: 891,909-915,782
1986: 915,783-940,502
1987: 940,503-966,467
1988: 966,468-994,255
1989: 994,256-2,000,001
1990: 2,000,002-2,030,000
1991: 2,030,001-2,060,000
1992: 2,060,001-2,090,000
1993: 2,090,001-2,120,000
1994: 2,120,001-2,150,000
1995: 2,150,001-2,180,000
1996: 2,180,001-2,210,000
1997: 2,210,001-2,240,000
1998: 2,240,001-2,270,000
1999: 2,270,001-2,290,000
2000: 2,290,001-2,330,000
2001: 2,330,001-2,370,000
2002: 2,370,001-2,410,000
2003: 2,410,001-2,450,000
2004: 2,450,001-2,490,000
2005: 2,490,001-2,530,000
2006: 2,530,001-2,570,000
2007: 2,570,001-2,610,000
2008: 2,610,001-2,650,000
2009: 2,650,001-2,690,000
2010: 2,690,001-2,730,000
2011: 2,730,001-2,770,000
2012: 2,770,001-2,810,000
2013: 2,810,001-2,850,000
2014: 2,850,001-2,890,000
2015: 2,890,001-2,930,000
2016: 2,930,001-2,970,000
2017: 2,970,001-3,010,000
2018: 3,010,001-3,040,000
2019: 3,040,001-3,060,000
2020: 3,060,001-3,100,000
2021: 3,100,001-3,130,000
2022: 3,130,001-3,160,000
2023: 3,160,001-3,190,000
2024: 3,190,001-3,200,000+
UK (British) Patent Numbers
1852: 1-1,211
1853: 1-3,045
1854: 1-2,764
1855: 1-2,958
1856: 1-3,006
1857: 1-3,152
1858: 1-3,278
1859: 1-3,110
1860: 1-3,196
1861: 1-3,245
1862: 1-3,318
1863: 1-3,402
1864: 1-3,188
1865: 1-3,097
1866: 1-3,144
1867: 1-3,221
1868: 1-3,287
1869: 1-3,356
1870: 1-3,400
1871: 1-3,512
1872: 1-3,688
1873: 1-3,844
1874: 1-4,021
1875: 1-4,188
1876: 1-4,356
1877: 1-4,522
1878: 1-4,711
1879: 1-4,982
1880: 1-5,517
1881: 1-6,104
1882: 1-6,822
1883: 1-7,645
1884: 1-8,492
1885: 1-9,351
1886: 1-10,284
1887: 1-11,376
1888: 1-12,910
1889: 1-16,221
1890: 1-21,304
1891: 1-22,115
1892: 1-22,884
1893: 1-23,407
1894: 1-23,966
1895: 1-24,522
1896: 1-24,906
1897: 1-25,318
1898: 1-24,911
1899: 1-24,366
1900: 1-23,924
1901: 1-24,112
1902: 1-24,386
1903: 1-24,587
1904: 1-24,961
1905: 1-25,217
1906: 1-25,844
1907: 1-26,401
1908: 1-27,215
1909: 1-28,902
1910: 1-30,430
1911: 1-29,774
1912: 1-27,988
1913: 1-24,801
1914: 1-20,344
1915: 1-18,225
1916: 100,001-109,999
1917: 110,000-119,999
1918: 120,000-128,999
1919: 129,000-136,851
1920: 136,852-169,999
1921: 170,000-189,999
1922: 190,000-209,999
1923: 210,000-229,999
1924: 230,000-249,999
1925: 250,000-269,999
1926: 270,000-289,999
1927: 290,000-309,999
1928: 310,000-319,999
1929: 320,000-323,500
1930: 323,501-359,999
1931: 360,000-389,999
1932: 390,000-419,999
1933: 420,000-449,999
1934: 450,000-479,999
1935: 480,000-499,999
1936: 500,000-509,999
1937: 510,000-514,999
1938: 515,000-515,999
1939: 516,000-516,600
1940: 516,601-539,999
1941: 540,000-559,999
1942: 560,000-579,999
1943: 580,000-599,999
1944: 600,000-619,999
1945: 620,000-629,999
1946: 630,000-631,999
1947: 632,000-632,999
1948: 633,000-633,800
1949: 633,801-633,800
1950: 633,801-679,999
1951: 680,000-709,999
1952: 710,000-739,999
1953: 740,000-769,999
1954: 770,000-789,999
1955: 790,000-799,999
1956: 800,000-809,999
1957: 810,000-817,999
1958: 818,000-822,999
1959: 823,000-825,700
1960: 825,701-869,999
1961: 870,000-909,999
1962: 910,000-949,999
1963: 950,000-989,999
1964: 990,000-1,029,999
1965: 1,030,000-1,069,999
1966: 1,070,000-1,109,999
1967: 1,110,000-1,139,999
1968: 1,140,000-1,159,999
1969: 1,160,000-1,178,400
1970: 1,178,401-1,229,999
1971: 1,230,000-1,289,999
1972: 1,290,000-1,349,999
1973: 1,350,000-1,409,999
1974: 1,410,000-1,459,999
1975: 1,460,000-1,499,999
1976: 1,500,000-1,519,999
1977: 1,520,000-1,533,699
1978: 1,533,700-1,533,700
1979: 2,000,001-2,019,999
1980: 2,020,000-2,039,999
1981: 2,040,000-2,059,999
1982: 2,060,000-2,079,999
1983: 2,080,000-2,099,999
1984: 2,100,000-2,119,999
1985: 2,120,000-2,139,999
1986: 2,140,000-2,159,999
1987: 2,160,000-2,179,999
1988: 2,180,000-2,199,999
1989: 2,200,000-2,219,999
1990: 2,220,000-2,239,999
1991: 2,240,000-2,259,999
1992: 2,260,000-2,279,999
1993: 2,280,000-2,299,999
1994: 2,300,000-2,319,999
1995: 2,320,000-2,329,999
1996: 2,330,000-2,334,999
1997: 2,335,000-2,337,999
1998: 2,338,000-2,339,199
1999: 2,339,200-2,339,700
2000: 2,339,701-2,359,999
2001: 2,360,000-2,379,999
2002: 2,380,000-2,399,999
2003: 2,400,000-2,419,999
2004: 2,420,000-2,429,999
2005: 2,430,000-2,439,999
2006: 2,440,000-2,449,999
2007: 2,450,000-2,455,999
2008: 2,456,000-2,459,999
2009: 2,460,000-2,461,200
2010: 2,461,201-2,479,999
2011: 2,480,000-2,499,999
2012: 2,500,000-2,519,999
2013: 2,520,000-2,539,999
2014: 2,540,000-2,549,999
2015: 2,550,000-2,559,999
2016: 2,560,000-2,569,999
2017: 2,570,000-2,572,999
2018: 2,573,000-2,573,999
2019: 2,574,000-2,574,800
2020: 2,574,801-2,589,999
2021: 2,590,000-2,599,999
2022: 2,600,000-2,604,999
2023: 2,605,000-2,609,999
2024: 2,610,000+
Hey there, fellow treasure hunters and history buffs! We hope you’ve got a big mug of coffee ready because today we are diving deep into the "detective work" side of the hobby. It’s a bit grey outside today, but searching for the history behind a rare find always brightens things up…. honest!
One of the most frequent questions we get at our online collectible auctions is, "How old is this thing?" Whether you’ve found a beautiful piece of art glass, a quirky vintage toy, or some heavy-duty industrial hardware, the key to its birthday is often hidden in plain sight: the patent number.
Dating your goodies by their patent numbers is a tried-and-true method for collectors, resellers, and anyone who loves a bit of history. We’ve put together this comprehensive guide for U.S., Canadian, and UK patents from the 1830s all the way to 2024. Grab your magnifying glass and let’s get to work!
Why Patent Numbers Matter for Collectors
When you’re browsing our online collectible auctions, you’ll often see "Pat. Pend." or a long string of numbers stamped into the base of an item.
- Pat. Pend. (Patent Pending): This means the inventor had applied for a patent but hadn't received the official number yet. This usually narrows the date down to a very specific 1-2 year window.
- The Patent Number: Once granted, this number is a direct link to the year the design or utility was officially recognized.
Keep in mind that the patent date is the earliest an item could have been made. Many popular items were produced for decades after the original patent was granted, but it gives you a fantastic starting point!
Pro-Tips for Your Research
- Check for Reissues: Sometimes you'll see "RE" followed by a number. This means the patent was reissued because of an error or change. These have their own numbering sequence!
- Look for Country Codes: US patents usually just have the number. Canadian patents might have "CA" or "CAN" nearby, and UK items may show "GB" on more modern examples.
- Cross-Reference with Styles: If a patent number says 1890 but the item looks like it’s from the 1970s, it might just be a reproduction or a "patent-expired" design. Trust your gut!
We love seeing the "aha!" moment when a customer realizes their auction win is even older than they thought. It makes the thrill of the hunt at our online collectible auctions even better!
If you’re ready to put your new detective skills to the test, come check out our latest treasures. We’ve got a fantastic mix of toys, cards, art glass, and unique household goods waiting for a new home.
Enjoy our auctions here: https://funkyjunkauctions.hibid.com/auctions
Team Funky
#AntiqueDating #PatentNumbers #FunkyJunkCanada #CollectorTips #ResearchTool #VintageJewelryAuctions #OnlineCollectibleAuctions #AntiqueCollectors #HistoryDetectives #DatingAntiques