Beatrix Potter Backstamps
Beswick and Royal Albert Backstamps
The Beswick and Royal Albert Backstamps used on Beatrix Potter Figures have changed many times since 1948 and they can be useful to aid in dating a particular piece. The figures did not retain their original mark but as backstamps changed all figures in current production were marked with the new backstamp. Broadly speaking there are three styles of backstamp Beswick Gold, Beswick Brown and Royal Albert. However the backstamps are a little more complex than this.
Here is a brief explanation of the different
Beswick and Royal Albert Backstamps:
Beswick and Royal Albert Backstamps:
Beswick Gold
BP1a Beswick Gold Circle 'Beswick' and 'England' written in a Circle -
'BEATRIX POTTER' written in upper case - Character Name
'BEATRIX POTTER' written in upper case - Character Name
written in Italics - The word 'copywright' may or may not
appear.
Issued 1948-1954
appear.
Issued 1948-1954
BP1b Beswick Gold Parallel Lines 'Beswick' and 'England' written in
parallel lines - the word 'Copyright' is in script - designed to fit on
to the base of 'The Tailor of Gloucester' but in fact used in error on
seven other figures.
Issued 1949-1954
parallel lines - the word 'Copyright' is in script - designed to fit on
to the base of 'The Tailor of Gloucester' but in fact used in error on
seven other figures.
Issued 1949-1954
BP2a Beswick Gold Oval - The words 'Beswick' and 'England' written
in an Oval shape - Issued 1955 - 1972
in an Oval shape - Issued 1955 - 1972
It appeared in different forms:
(1) Beatrix Potter in upper case type. character's name in Italic
script, sometimes within quotation marks. Can occur with
'copyright' in italic script.
script, sometimes within quotation marks. Can occur with
'copyright' in italic script.
(2) Beatrix Potter in upper case type. Character's name in upper
case type within quotation marks.
case type within quotation marks.
(3) Beatrix Potter and Character's name in handwritten style
script.
script.
(4) Beatrix Potter in upper case type, Character's name in Script
From 1961.
From 1961.
(5) Bearix Potter in upper case type, Character's name in lower
case type. Can occur with Beatrix Potter in slanted type -
From 1971.
case type. Can occur with Beatrix Potter in slanted type -
From 1971.
(6) Beatrix Potter in upper case type, Character's name in upper
case type. From 1971 - 1972
case type. From 1971 - 1972
BP2b Transitional Gold/Brown - 'Beatrix Potter' and the Character's
name appear in gold and the last 3 lines - (i.e. F. Warne and
Co. Ltd: Copyright (date): BESWICK ENGLAND:) appear in
brown. These were on a very limited number of figures
Issued 1971 - 1972
name appear in gold and the last 3 lines - (i.e. F. Warne and
Co. Ltd: Copyright (date): BESWICK ENGLAND:) appear in
brown. These were on a very limited number of figures
Issued 1971 - 1972
Beswick Brown
BP3 Beswick Brown Line - The words 'Beswick' and 'England' appear
in brown either in a straight line or with 'Beswick' atop 'England'
depending on the shape and size of the base.
in brown either in a straight line or with 'Beswick' atop 'England'
depending on the shape and size of the base.
Issued 1973 - 1988
BP3a line 1 - BEATRIX POTTER'S with apostrophe S
line 2 - Character Name within quotations
line 2 - Character Name within quotations
line 3 - F Warne & Co. Ltd.
line 4 - Copyright with no date
line 5 - BESWICK ENGLAND
Issued 1973 - 1974
BP3b The same as BP3a apart from:
line 4 - © Copyright with date
Issued 1974 - 1985
BP3c line 1 - BEATRIX POTTER with no S
line 2 - Character Name within quotations
line 3 - © F. Warne & Co. (date)
line 4 - Licensed by Copyrights
line 5 - BESWICK ENGLAND
Issued 1985 - 1988
BP4 Beswick Signature - At this time the Beswick backstamp
was replaced by the Royal Doulton backstamp. However the
Beswick connection was sustained by the inclusion of the John
Beswick signature on the backstamp
was replaced by the Royal Doulton backstamp. However the
Beswick connection was sustained by the inclusion of the John
Beswick signature on the backstamp
line 1 - BEATRIX POTTER
line 2 - Character's Name within quotations
line 3 - © F Warne & Co. with date
line 4 - John Beswick Signature
line 5 - Studio of Royal Doulton
line 6 - England
Issued 1988 - 1989
BP5 Royal Albert Gold Crown - The Backstamp was now changed
from Doulton/Beswick to Royal Albert. To mark this significant
change the gold backstamp was once again used for just one
year.
from Doulton/Beswick to Royal Albert. To mark this significant
change the gold backstamp was once again used for just one
year.
line 1- The Royal Albert Crown in Gold
line 2 - ROYAL ALBERT (R)
line 3 - England
line 4 - Character Name
line 5 - Beatrix Potter
line 6 - © F. Warne & Co. 1948
line 7 - © 1989 ROYAL ALBERT LTD
Issued in 1989 only
BP6 Royal Albert Brown Crown - There were two sizes issued in this
backstamp.
backstamp.
Issued 1989 to 1998
BP6a - Small Brown Crown - This was used on the figures that
were of standard size. It was issued in 1989 and was used on
90 figurines. For small based figures there was a variation
without the crown
were of standard size. It was issued in 1989 and was used on
90 figurines. For small based figures there was a variation
without the crown
line 1 - The Royal Albert Crown in Brown
line 2 - ROYAL ALBERT
line 3 - England
line 4 - Character Name
line 5 - Beatrix Potter
line 6 - © F.Warne & Co. 1948
line 7 - © 1989 ROYAL ALBERT LTD
BP6b - Large Brown Crown - This was issued in 1993 and was
used on ten figurines.
used on ten figurines.
line Lay-out - as BP6a above
BP7 Beswick Brown Oval - This Backstamp was issued to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Peter Rabbit - 1893 -
1993 and was only used on the Large Size Peter Rabbit
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Peter Rabbit - 1893 -
1993 and was only used on the Large Size Peter Rabbit
Issued 1993
BP8 Beswick Ware Brown Script - 'Beswick Ware England' or
'Beswick Ware Made in England' is the earliest printed
backstamp of the W. Beswick, Baltimore Works, Longton, and
it was for the Beswick Centenary that the Beswick Ware logo
was reinstated as the primary backstamp of the John Beswick
Studio of Royal Doulton
'Beswick Ware Made in England' is the earliest printed
backstamp of the W. Beswick, Baltimore Works, Longton, and
it was for the Beswick Centenary that the Beswick Ware logo
was reinstated as the primary backstamp of the John Beswick
Studio of Royal Doulton
Issued 1994 to 1998
BP8a - General Backstamp - Issued for a very short period of
time in 1998, the brown script may turn out to be the rarest of
the Beatrix Potter backstamps as it is only found on 2 figures.
time in 1998, the brown script may turn out to be the rarest of
the Beatrix Potter backstamps as it is only found on 2 figures.
BP8b - 50th Anniversary of Beatrix Potter Figures at
Beswick - Issued in 1997 for the 50th Anniversary of Beatrix
Potter Figurine production at the John Beswick Studios on
Longton in 1997.
Beswick - Issued in 1997 for the 50th Anniversary of Beatrix
Potter Figurine production at the John Beswick Studios on
Longton in 1997.
BP8c - Limited Edition Backstamp - This backstamp is a
modification of BP8a and it was designed for use on limited
edition figurines.
modification of BP8a and it was designed for use on limited
edition figurines.
BP9 Beswick Ware Gold Script - A gold Beswick Ware script
backstamp was coupled with the anniversary, limited edition,
gold or platinum highlighted figurines.
backstamp was coupled with the anniversary, limited edition,
gold or platinum highlighted figurines.
Issued 1997 to 1999
BP9a - 100th Anniversary of John Beswick Studios - This
backstamp was issued in 1994 to commemorate the 100th
Anniversary of the founding of the Beswick studios. It was
only available on Jemima Puddle-Duck.
backstamp was issued in 1994 to commemorate the 100th
Anniversary of the founding of the Beswick studios. It was
only available on Jemima Puddle-Duck.
BP9b - General Backstamp - This Gold Beswick Ware
backstamp was used between 1997 and 1998 on small sized
figures issued with gold accents
backstamp was used between 1997 and 1998 on small sized
figures issued with gold accents
BP9c - Limited Edition Backstamp - This is a modified BP9b
and appears on large sized figurines issued by Lawleys
between 1997 and 2000.
and appears on large sized figurines issued by Lawleys
between 1997 and 2000.
BP9d - Peter Rabbit and Friends Limited Editions - This is
also a modification of the BP9b backstamp and was used on
limited edition figures with gold accents which were issued by
Peter Rabbit and Friends
also a modification of the BP9b backstamp and was used on
limited edition figures with gold accents which were issued by
Peter Rabbit and Friends
BP10 Beswick Black Crest - The Beswick backstamp was redesigned
in 1998 and the Beswick crest which had first been seen in
1968 was re-introduced for the Beswick line of Storybook
figurines.
Issued 1998
in 1998 and the Beswick crest which had first been seen in
1968 was re-introduced for the Beswick line of Storybook
figurines.
Issued 1998
BP10a - General Backstamp Issue - This backstamp was used
on 27 Figurines.
on 27 Figurines.
BP10b - Beswick Black Arch - A modification was necessary
as there was a restriction on the base of some figurines.
This backstamp was used on 14 figures.
as there was a restriction on the base of some figurines.
This backstamp was used on 14 figures.
BP10c - Beswick Black Circle - This is also a modified version
of BP10a because of base restriction and was used on 8
figures.
of BP10a because of base restriction and was used on 8
figures.
BP10d - Peter Rabbit and Friends Limited Editions - This
backstamp is a gold version of BP10a and was used on the
limited edition figurine Sweet Peter Rabbit which was
commissioned by Peter Rabbit and Friends.
backstamp is a gold version of BP10a and was used on the
limited edition figurine Sweet Peter Rabbit which was
commissioned by Peter Rabbit and Friends.
BP11 John Beswick Signature - From 2001 both the standard range
figures and the limited/special edition figures carry a "John
Beswick" signature instead of the workd "Beswick". The
Doulton "P" number for each figure is also included for all
limited/special edition figures from 2001 and standard range
from 2002.
figures and the limited/special edition figures carry a "John
Beswick" signature instead of the workd "Beswick". The
Doulton "P" number for each figure is also included for all
limited/special edition figures from 2001 and standard range
from 2002.
BP11a - General Backstamp Issue - This backstamp was
used on 9 figurines. Satin Glaze was also used on another six
figurines. These six also have the words 'SATIN FINISH'
arranged in a circle on a paper sticker.
used on 9 figurines. Satin Glaze was also used on another six
figurines. These six also have the words 'SATIN FINISH'
arranged in a circle on a paper sticker.
BP11b Limited/ Special Edition Backstamp - This was used
on the limited edition firgures:
Flopsy and Benjamin Bunny
Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail, style two
Kep and Jemima
My Dear Son Thomas
Peter and Benjamin Picking Apples
Peter on his Book.
on the limited edition firgures:
Flopsy and Benjamin Bunny
Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail, style two
Kep and Jemima
My Dear Son Thomas
Peter and Benjamin Picking Apples
Peter on his Book.
