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 backtamp. 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
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 7
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 7
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 - 1983 - 1993 and was only used on the
Large Size Peter Rabbit
Anniversary of Peter Rabbit - 1983 - 1993 and was only used on the
Large Size Peter Rabbit
Issued 1993
