Beswick/Royal Albert Figurines: Beatrix Potter Collectables
I love collecting things, especially figurines, which makes my home look interesting or somewhat cluttered, depending on your viewpoint.
Explore some of the Beswick Beatrix Potter figurines in my collection, and learn about backstamps and the life and books of Beatrix Potter.
These collectable Beswick storybook figurines make for very popular presents not only for children but for collectors as well. The Beatrix Potter china ornaments are beautifully crafted by artists—Graham Orwell, Alan Maslankowski, Ted Chawner, David Lyttleton, Arthur Gredington, Graham Tongue, Amanda Hughes-Lubeck and Albert Hallam.
This article showcases my large collection of Beswick/Royal Albert figurines in the Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit series. In addition to photographs and descriptions of the models I own, I will tell you a little about Beatrix Potter herself and how she came to write the Peter Rabbit series—along with her rapid rise to fame. I will also tell you a little about the Beswick designers and the important significance of Beswick backstamps.
How I Started Collecting Beatrix Potter Figures
My lifelong affection for Beatrix Potter figures began when I was given a Beswick figurine, Jeremy Fisher, for my birthday sixty years ago. Appealing, lovable, and faintly repellent, he travelled the world with me, a significant reminder of my childhood. This little figure lasted until I had children of my own, and eventually—after losing one hand, which was reverently glued back somewhat amateurishly—he broke and was regretfully consigned to the dustbin.
Over the years, I have gathered quite a large collection of Beswick figurines, which I now plan to sell, although I will keep one or two of my favourites.
Some Figurines in My Collection
- Tommy Brock BP 3a
- Mr Benjamin Bunny and Peter Rabbit BP 3c
- Susan BP3b
- Mr Tod BP6a
- Appley Dapply BP2a
- Tailor of Gloucester BP2a
- Foxy Whiskered Gentleman BP-2a
- Mr Benjamin Bunny BP 2a Gold
- Pig-Wig BP 3b
- Sir Isaac Newton BP3b
- Benjamin Wakes Up BP 6a
Tommy Brock BP 3a: Standard and Very Rare Versions
In the photo above, the figurine on the left is the standard Beswick Beatrix Potter Tommy Brock BP 3a circa 1970–1974 (showing the spade handle and small eye patches). It has a blue-grey jacket, pink waistcoat and yellow trousers.
The figurine on the right is the very rare and valuable Beswick Beatrix Potter Tommy Brock in the second version, second variation (a hidden spade handle and small eye patches)—it has a rare BP 3a backstamp, only produced for one year, about 1974.
- Modeller: Graham Orwell
- Height: 3.5", 8.9 cm
- Issued: 1970–1974
Mr Benjamin Bunny and Peter Rabbit BP 3c
Mr Benjamin Bunny is seen here smacking Peter Rabbit's bottom in this scene from The Tale of Benjamin Bunny.
- Modeller: Alan Maslankowski
- Height: 4", 10.1 cm
- Issued: 1975–1995
Beswick Beatrix Potter—Susan 1983, believed to be Model BP3b.
Susan BP3b
This figure appears to have a very rare backstamp: "Frederick Warne plc 1983" (as opposed to Frederick Warne & Co), which is not even mentioned in Beswick's Collectables, although I have seen it elsewhere on the internet. A rare backstamp would increase the value considerably.
- Modeller: David Lyttleton
- Height: 4"
- Issued: 1983
Mr Tod BP6a
- Modeller: Ted Chawner
- Height: 4.75", 12.1 cm
- Issued: 1988–1993
Appley Dapply BP2a
This Beswick Beatrix Potter Appley Dapply BP2a figurine goes for about £150.
- Modeller: Albert Hallam
- Issued: 1971–1975
Tailor of Gloucester BP2a
Tailor of Gloucester is one of the less valuable Beswick figurines, so it would make a good starter to a collection. This figure depicts a brown mouse on a yellow bobbin of red thread.
- Modeller: Arthur Gredington
- Height: 3.5"
Foxy Whiskered Gentleman BP-2a
Foxy Whiskered Gentleman was issued between 1954–2002. However, the backstamp on the figurine in the photograph indicates that it was actually issued between 1955–1975, so it is a very early version.
In this particular version, Foxy Whiskered Gentleman is wearing a pale green jacket and trousers and a pink waistcoat. Sadly, he has a chipped ear, waistcoat and backstamp.
- Height: 4.75", 12.1 cm
- Issued: 1955–1975; 1954–2002
Mr Benjamin Bunny BP 2a Gold
The Mr Benjamin Bunny figure shown here is the earlier version issued between 1965 and 1974, which has his pipe out. There is an extremely rare earlier version with Mr Benjamin Bunny wearing a lilac jacket as opposed to the maroon jacket.
In the later versions, issued between 1970 and 2002, his pipe is in. There are numerous different backstamps, and the later issues are, on the whole, a lot less valuable.
- Modeller: Arthur Gredington
- Height: 4.25", 10.8 cm
- Issued: 1965–1974; 1970–2002
Pig-Wig BP 3b
There were two colour variations for Pig-Wig:
- Version 1 is extremely rare—so rare, in fact, that the standard reference book, Beswick Collectables, does not even list the price. The version 1 Pig-Wig is a grey pig in a pale blue dress.
- In version 2, the one shown above, she is a black pig in a deep blue dress.
- Modeller: Albert Hallam
- Height: 4"
- Issued: 1972–1982
Sir Isaac Newton BP3b
Sir Isaac Newton is my favourite Beatrix Potter Figurine—don't ask me why; I just love him! This is one of the only figures with a backstamp using the words "Made in England" as opposed to the usual "England".
The colour and size of Sir Isaac Newton figurines may vary. He wears a pale green jacket and a yellow waistcoat with tan markings.
- Modeller: Graham Tongue
- Height: 3.75", 9.5 cm
- Issued: 1955–1972
Benjamin Wakes Up BP 6a
Benjamin Wakes Up is not a very valuable figurine, but he's quite cute.
- Modeller: Amanda Hughes-Lubeck
- Height: 2.25", 5.7 cm
- Issued: 1991–1997
This is what a backstamp looks like on a Beswick figure.
What Are Backstamps?
Backstamps are used by manufacturers to identify their work and are generally found on the underside of the figurine. They normally include the name of the manufacturer and, in the case of Beswick, there were many variations which could be used to deduce the model and date of issue. Some people collect rare backstamps, rather than the figurines they identify, and backstamps can considerably increase the value of an item if they are very rare.
Beswick, Royal Albert and Royal Doulton Beatrix Potter Backstamps
The following information will assist you when you are building your collection of Beswick, Royal Albert and Royal Doulton Beatrix Potter figurines. There were 25 different backstamp variations used in total:
| Backstamp | Description | Date Issued |
|---|---|---|
BP1a Beswick Gold Circle | Beswick England written in a Circle | 1948–1954 |
BP1b Beswick Gold Parallel Lines | Beswick England written in parallel lines used on a very limited amount of figures | 1949–1954 |
BP2 Beswick Gold Oval | Beswick England written in an Oval shape | 1955–1972 |
BP2b Beswick Transitional | Part Gold Script backstamp as on the BP2 and part BP3b backstamp | 1971–1972 |
BP3a Beswick | Brown writing with no date stamp | 1973–1974 |
BP3b Beswick | Brown writing Potter's with an "s" and the copyright date | 1974–1985 |
BP3c Beswick | Brown writing Potter with no 's with the added Licensed By Copyrights and the copyright date | 1985–1988 |
BP4 Beswick Doulton | Similar to the BP3c stamp but with the John Beswick Signature and the added Studio of Royal Doulton | 1988–1989 |
BP5 Royal Albert Gold Crown | Gold stamp to mark the changeover to the Royal Albert Label, only used on six Character Figurines | 1989 |
BP6a Royal Albert Small Crown | Brown stamp used on the smaller figures | 1989–1998 |
BP6b Royal Albert Large Crown | Brown stamp used on the larger size figures | 1993–1998 |
BP7 Beswick Doulton | 100 in an Oval shape with the writing Peter Rabbit 1893–1993 F.Warne & Co used to mark the 100th Anniversary of Peter Rabbit | 1993 |
BP8a Beswick Doulton | Brown Script Beswick Ware found on only two figures: Jemima & Her Ducklings and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle Washing | 1998 |
BP8b Beswick Doulton | Brown Script Beswick Ware marked 1947–1997 used to mark the 50th year of production of Beswick Beatrix Potter figurines | 1997 |
BP8c Beswick Doulton | Brown Script Beswick Ware used on Limited Edition figurines with the added Limited Edition numbers only used on three Tableaus | 1998–2000 |
BP9a Beswick Doulton | Gold Script Beswick Ware marked with Beswick Centenary 1894–1994 marking the 100th Anniversary of the Beswick company only used on Jemima Puddle-Duck | 1994 |
BP9b Beswick Doulton | Gold Script Beswick Ware used on six figurines painted with Gold Highlights | 1997–1998 |
BP9c Beswick Doulton | Gold Script Beswick Ware used on Limited Edition figures with the added Limited Edition numbers | 1997–2000 |
BP9d Beswick Doulton | Gold Script Beswick Ware used on Limited Edition figures with the addition of the Peter Rabbit and Friends logo | 1997–2000 |
BP10a Beswick Doulton | Beswick "B" Black Crest stamp | 1998–2002 |
BP10b Beswick Doulton | Black stamp Beswick written arched over Made In England | 1998–2002 |
BP10c Beswick Doulton | A variation of BP10b but all writing is curved around the figures circular base | 1998–2002 |
BP10d Beswick Doulton | Beswick "B" Gold Crest Special Gold Edition with the Peter Rabbit and Friends logo only used on Sweet Peter Rabbit | 1999 |
BP11a Beswick Doulton | Circular stamp with the John Beswick Signature and the "P" reference number of the figure produced on nine Gloss Finish figures and six Satin Glaze Finish figures | 2001–2002 |
BP11b Beswick Doulton | Circular stamp same as BP11a but on marked Limited Edition figures | 2001–2002 |