When determining the value of a Hummel figurine, most collectors turn to a Hummel price guide. There are several well-regarded books for Hummel collectors; each gives a list of Hummel collectibles with price ranges. There are also numerous websites offering a similar list of Hummel figurines and values. These give what's known as a “book value” for each piece.

If you want to know what your Hummel collection is likely to sell for, a better option might be to search out recent sales and internet prices. Prices on the internet change much more rapidly than those printed in a book, making it more likely that online prices will truly reflect what you might be able to sell the Hummel figurine for.

Many collectors find that the 'book value' of their Hummel figurine does not accurately reflect recent sales or internet prices for the figurine. In fact, the book value might be as much as twice what the figurine is currently selling for on sites like eBay. The same is true of many other categories of collectibles, not just Hummel figurines. The 'book value' is useful for insurance valuation, but it may not reflect what your figurine would sell for if you put it up for sale.

If you want to know how much a Hummel figurine might truly sell for, one of the best resources is eBay. If you are registered, you can browse completed listings, which provides 30 days of sales history. You'll be able to see how much your Hummel figurine has fetched in recent months, which is likely to be more accurate than the price you've seen in a book, no matter how reputable the price guide may be. We've gathered some sales data from December 2010 so that you don't have to do it yourself. So click here to find recent Hummel prices.

You may also be able to find the figurine for sale on other websites, which offer secondary market prices (as opposed to the 'primary market,' or buying a new Hummel figurine straight from a dealer.) While these prices reflect the amount the seller is asking for the figure, not necessarily how much it will end up selling for, they tend to be accurate predictors of the value of the Hummel figurine.

The prices found on internet sites such as eBay are known as “market values.” As opposed to the “book value” found in a price guide, these are the prices actually found in the collectors' market. Often, the market value is lower than the book value. Some Hummel experts advise that book values will be approximately twice what the Hummel figurine might sell for on eBay. However, occasionally the market value will be higher than the price range printed in the book, particularly in cases where a figurine is particularly popular with collectors, despite having been produced in relatively high numbers.

If you want to know how much your Hummel collection is worth for insurance purposes, consult a Hummel value guide. There are several reputable Hummel collectors' books available. If you want to know how much the figurine would be likely to sell for if you were to list it on eBay or offer it for sale elsewhere, turn to recent sales on eBay and other online sites, which are likely to give a more accurate figure.