First, Carl Hartmann dolls manufactured in Neustadt, Germany are not the same as the Karl Hartmann dolls manufactured in Stockheim, Germany. Be careful not to confuse the two.
1891 Beginning
Carl Hartmann dolls date back just before the turn of the century around 1891. In October of 1891 the Government Gazette for the Duchy of Coburg published the announcement : “On September 25, 1891, the company Carl Hartmann in Neustadt b/Cob. was entered in the local commercial register under main number 611, and the manufacturer Carl Christian Louis Hartmann from Großenbehringen, currently in Neustadt b./Cob., was entered as its owner. Coburg, September 30, 1891. Chamber of Commercial Affairs. Dr. Otto.”
Marks found on Carl Hartmann Dolls
The dolls may have the initials CH with numbers between them. Some of the dolls will have the actual words “GLOBE BABY” (his trademark) and the letters DEP.
Member of the Chamber of Commerce
The Government Gazette for the Duchy of Coburg published in December of 1907 the announcement: “Chamber of Commerce for the Duchy of Coburg: From the elections held in accordance with Section 13 of the Ordinance concerning the Chamber of Commerce for the Duchy of Coburg from December 2nd, 1895, the following were elected: . . . 2.1 in the Neustadt District Court district : Mr. Merchant Otto Waldeck and Manufacturer Carl Hartmann, both in Neustadt.” The paper announced his retirement from this role in 1907, but he returns and one sees his name in 1911 making the announcement about eligible voters, and again to re-election in 1913 and 1920.
Globe, Hansa, and Thuringia Dolls
Cieslik’s German Doll Encyclopedia states that Carl Hartmann began advertising a set of dolls referred to as Globe as early as 1898. The Globe became his trademark sometimes with a banner over it. (see the ad below.)
Then other sets called HANSA and THURINGIA in 1902. These sets were still found in the 1920s in a Hartmann trade catalog. The Paladin-Babies began advertising in 1903 with DRP registration numbers by Kammer & Reinhardt DRP 138 269 and DRP 145 863 from 1901.
Carl Hartmann Dolls at Leipzig Trade Fair
The 1897 Address Book for the for the Leipzig Trade Fair gave the listing, “Neustadt b. Coburg. Gekleidete Puppen. O. – V. Peters Str. 20. Hotel de Russie.”
The 1903 Address Book for the Leipzig Trade Fair lists Carl Hartmann of Neustadt b. Koburg – Peters Str. (Russie) under the category of “Puppen, gekleidete” (Dolls, dressed). Another listing in the same addressbook mentions “Fabrik gekleideter Puppen – Nurzur O. -V. Peters-Str. 20 III (Hotel de Russi), Z. 62/63.
The 1903-1904 address book of the Leipzig Trade Fair specifically lists Carl Hartmann’s Globe Babies. In 1904 he has a small ad promoting both the Globe-Babies and the Paladin-Babies encouraging tradesmen that the dolls are staple articles to buy any time of the year.
(Cieslik’s German Doll Encyclopedia provides a full page ad Carl Hartmann had published of the Globe Baby dolls in the Leipzig Trade Fair Addressbook in one of the 1903 volumes. As the writing of this post, Germany has three of the four books for 1903 online. None of the three had the ad so it might be assumed it lies within the page of the one volume that is not yet online.)
Ad for Carl Hartman Dolls
In 1908 anoother Carl Hartmann ad appears in the Leipzig Address book that advertises Neustadt near Coburg manufacturing dressed dolls and recommending the patented Globe Babies as the year’s new specialty (patent number 25749). The ad emphasizes that “Globe Baby” is a registered and protected trademark (No. 32787).
Going into further details the ad explains the Globe Babies are finely dressed articulated dolls with an elegant style. The dolls could sell all year long, favorited by little ones of all nations with their cute friendly little faces. Furthermore, the Globe-Baby doll clothes could be put on and taken off with undergarments that could be washed and ironed.
The ad also presented the Paladin Babies (D.R.G.M. 67 348 Kl. 37) which had natural eyelashes and celluloid doll heads.
Photo Credit: SLUB Dresden
Carl Hartman 1919 Partnership
The Coburg Government Newspaper published the announcement in February of 1920: “Carl Hartmann Company in Neustadt near Coburg: General partnership since July 1, 1919. The partners, businessman and manufacturer Karl Hartmann and businessman Erich Hartmann himself, are equally authorized to represent the company.”
There was a Karl Hartmann with a factory in Stockheim. It is not known whether this is the same or not.
A Carl Hartmann Dolls’ Catalog
A tradesman undated Carl Hartmann catalog displays dolls dressed in styles of the 1920s. In the catalog one sees different groups along with their pricelist and inventory numbers. The groups of dolls are the HANSA, the THURINGIA, the COLUMBIA, and the GLOBE. One may assume that the Globe group are the “Globe Babies” but no other details are provided to support this. The doll pictured here was among the Globe set.
One can see from the photos that most of the dolls have knee joints higher up on the leg in what doll collectors call the FLAPPER bodies so that doll joints are hidden under the short 1920’s style dresses. Some of the dolls have jointed wrists and some do not. The catalog describes them as “jointed” and “double-jointed” probably meaning that those with joints only at shoulders and hips are jointed and those with joints at elbows and knees are the double-jointed.
Inside on the first perforated page in English one finds, “Yours faithfully CARL HARTMANN Manufacturers of Dolls of all kinds – Neustadt bei Coburg.”
The catalog had text in English, German, and Spanish with a purple stamp naming James Smith & Partners Ltd. of Camomile Street Chambers, London.
James Smith & Partners Ltd.
Who was James Smith & Partners?
James Smith & Partners LTD. of 36, Camomile Street, E.C.3, who will supply pamphlets and other information on application. (The Mining magazine. 1921. London: Mining Publications. c.1 v.24. p. 165.)
The Pottery Gazette mentions James Smith & Partners LTD in 1923 associated with Glebe Pottery of Copeland St, but another listing mentions Smith, James & Partners, Ld. (Col & S America), 36, Camomile st, E.C. 3.
1927 Patent
February of 1927 the Deutsch Spielwaren-Zeitung published the announcement of a Hartmann patent design on page 163: “Device on a doll’s hand that makes it possible to hold objects”, Carl Hartmann; Neustadt b. Coburg, dated 26. 11. 26, no. 976428.” Next to this listing is another that read: “Device that causes the doll to hold any object in its arm”, Carl Hartmann; Neustadt b. Coburg, vom 3. 12. 26, Nr. 976430.