| Collectors of porcelain figurines will be familiar with | | | | piece. |
| the wide range of stamps used by manufacturers | | | | 1954 saw the introduction of an impressed mark |
| to mark their work. Sometimes referred to as | | | | and the inclusion of the serial number of the |
| 'stamps' or 'backstamps', these marks are | | | | individual piece as well. The words 'BESWICK |
| generally found on the underside of the figurine | | | | ENGLAND' appear in block capitals, this time in a |
| and will always include the name of the | | | | semi-circle around the inside edge of the base of |
| manufacturer at the very least. | | | | the piece and set below that will be the serial |
| John Beswick followed this practice at his Beswick | | | | number. |
| factory and the range of marks or stamps that | | | | In the late 1960's the Beswick pottery began |
| can be found on Beswick pieces give an invaluable | | | | producing the first of a series of special figurine |
| insight into both the provenance and value of the | | | | collections, the most famous of which is, of |
| piece itself. | | | | course, the Beatrix Potter collection. This |
| One very important question that sometimes | | | | necessitated the giving of much greater |
| arises with Beswick figurines is whether the lack | | | | information in the stamp so, for example, you will |
| of a mark or stamp on the underside indicates | | | | see '© WALT DISNEY PROD BESWICK |
| that it is not a genuine piece. The answer to this | | | | ENGLAND' on the underside of the Winnie the |
| is no. There are a large number of Beswick | | | | Pooh series, which was produced from 1968 to |
| figurines in circulation that do not have a mark at | | | | 1990. Another good example would be the Alice in |
| all and the Beswick factory was well known for | | | | Wonderland series produced from 1973 to 1983 |
| unfinished pieces, particularly on a Friday | | | | where the mark would include the words 'ALICE |
| afternoon! | | | | SERIES "Queen of Hearts" BESWICK Made in |
| The earlier Beswick stamps, dating from just | | | | England' followed by a Royal Doulton copyright |
| after the First World War, take the form of a | | | | notice. Early Beatrix Potter figurine stamps are |
| simple circle or oval shape formed by the words | | | | similar in appearance and include the F Warne |
| 'Beswick England'. Printed in green, this will be | | | | & Co Ltd copyright notice. Some but not all |
| indicative of one of the early pieces. By 1936 the | | | | will be dated too. |
| stamp had changed into 'Beswick Ware Made in | | | | Latterly, Beswick, then owned by Royal Doulton, |
| England' appearing in beautiful flowing handwriting | | | | introduced a gold script mark for limited editions |
| and the circular or oval shape had disappeared | | | | and reverted to 'Beswick Ware' in the mark on |
| altogether. In each case the mark or stamp | | | | some variations. |
| appeared in the middle of the underside of the | | | | |