On June 15, 1964, The Hasbro Toy Company (Hassenfeld Bros Inc.) filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to claim their rights to a then, revolutionary action figure described to have twenty-one movable parts. After much success, this action figure came to be widely known as, "G.I. JOE" "America's Movable Fighting Man."
Throughout the process of finalizing Patent US3277602, which came on October 11, 1966, G.I. JOE had five different distinctive figure markings. Depending on the year in which a particular G.I. JOE ran off Hasbro's production line, the markings, which were stamped on the right buttocks of the figure, read differently. This has allowed collectors to gauge the year in which each figure was made, despite the fact that every G.I. JOE was imprinted with the year "1964."
Now lets get down to business! The buttocks identification markings corresponding with the specific production year/years for the vintage G.I. JOE figure are shown below.
1964-1965: TM/R Patent Pending
1966: R/R Patent Pending
1967-1975: R/R with Patent Number
1965-1969: Canada Markings
Early Canada Marking
Later Canada Marking
The above markings are meant to be used as a rule of thumb for identifying the year in which your G.I. JOE was made. Now being able to correctly identify the year of your Joe is one thing, but being able to identify how early/late in that specific year your figure was made, takes more time and experience. We will dive into that specific topic in another post.
Please feel free to comment in the section below if you should have any questions or ideas related to the topic at hand. We are always willing to help fellow collectors find their way in the collecting world! Until next time...Yo Joe!
~Ryan
Ryan's Vintage GI JOE & Toy Bricks
James - May 03, 2020
I was wondering what year joe went from painted head to life like hair? And did they stop making the painted heads at that time? Also do the painted heads / lifelike hair corespondent with the “butt stamps” i.e. Trademark ? Thank you.
Gene Gelner - November 29, 2019
I have a collection of 40+ 12" G.I. Joe’s from the 1990’s for sale,all figures are unopened in the box. If you would be interested in them I can forward you a list of the figures I have . Thank you.
Paul Mescher - September 02, 2019
So if stays "Formative it’ll made in china,a knockoff?
Terry Costilow - July 10, 2019
Yo jo
David Regan - April 07, 2019
Thanks, I found a tote full of them at flea market paid very little for so many
Darryl Lockman - March 30, 2019
I have a g I Joe the only marking u can find is a 12 stamped on back of his head how old is it n is it worth anything
Darryl Lockman - March 30, 2019
I have a g I Joe the only marking u can find is a 12 stamped on back of his head how old is it n is it worth anything
Kim - January 24, 2019
I have an Adventure team piece that I can’t identify. It’s a yellow casing with a red propeller or fan inside with a couple of straps in the back. Any idea what it is?
Al deborde - January 24, 2019
I have a older g.i. joe missing from elbow down on left arm trademark appears to older and a few accessories would like to sell
Stephen Gradijan - October 24, 2018
Where is the best place to sell 1964/65
GI Joe to get a fair price without being low balled?