Beatrix Potter Backstamps

Famous Beatrix Potter Figurines
Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit BackstampBeswick 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 Gold
 
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
 
BP2a      Beswick Gold Oval  – The words *Beswick* and *England* written 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.
  2. Beatrix Potter in upper case type. Character’s name in upper case type within quotation marks.
  3. Beatrix Potter and Character’s name in handwritten style script.
  4. Beatrix Potter in upper case type, Character’s name in Script From 1961.
  5. Beatrix Potter in upper case type, Character’s name in lower 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
 
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   
 
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 –Issued 1973 – 1988

 
  •               BP3a               line 1 – BEATRIX POTTER*S with apostrophe S
                                       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
                                                  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
                                           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.
                                          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.
                                          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
                                          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.
                                         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
                                         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
                                     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.
  •               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.
  •               BP8c – Limited Edition Backstamp – This backstam is a 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 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.
  •               BP9b – General Backstamp – This Gold Beswick Ware 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 which were 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,
 
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
  •               BP10a – General Backstamp Issue – This backstamp was used 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.
  •               BP10c – Beswick Black Circle – This is also a modified version 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.
 
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 word ‘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. 
  •                 BP11b  Limited/ Special Edition Backstamp – This was used on the limited edition figures:
                                         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.