Tips and Terms for Collectors

• Dating and Backstamps of Royal Doulton: While impossible to be completely precise, these rules usually hold true. Royal Doulton Trademark - It is unusual for a jug not to have a Royal Doulton Trademark, but prototypes have been found, at times, with a blank base. Seconds are marked with a X or a hole drilled into the backstamp.

  ***Quick Hint: To quickly identify an Royal Doulton older piece, glance at the curved lines that look like vertical, curved equal lines on each side of the circle. LONG MARKS usually mean an older piece while SHORT MARKS indicate a more recent issue. Looking for the size of the marks is an simplistic, unscientific, quick way to USUALLY determine if a piece is an older specimen.

  1901-1930's: The mark contains a Lion Standing on a Crown. Forming a circle are the words, "Royal Doulton (on top), England (on the bottom) and Curved Double Lines (on each side of the middle). These lines are usually thin and fairly long. (Long Marks) inside the circle are connecting marks that look like D's. There is a long, line beneath the connecting D's that is long and curves up half way on each side. Bleeding around the rim is also called a Shaded Rim or Oversprayed Rim and was usually found on the large size Character and Toby Jugs. This practice was completely discontinued by 1973,

  1930's-1940's: The words, "Made In England" were added and placed in a curve just beneath the crown. They curve on each side half way down the logo. It still has "Long Marks". Often, there is a single Registration (RN) number If the number could not be obtained in time, the words, "Registration Applied For." may appear. A Registration Number DOES NOT give the date for a specific piece-only the date design was protected. BUT a number that CAN date the piece may be placed in the upper right, near the crown. Add that number to the year 1927 and you should have an accurate date of the production of that specific piece! So a 14 next to the crown would mean it was produced in 1941. In 1938, Royal Doulton also began to register designs in Australia and you may find "Regd in Australia" added. Shaded Rims still present on the larger size jugs. Figurines carry the "Bone China" below the backstamp from 1932 to the present.

  1940's & 1950's: A capital "A" mark on the left of the lion and crown symbol is a kiln mark that was used between 1939-1955. Still has "Long Marks" though they are slightly thicker and shorter. After the war, Royal Doulton had to register designs in more of their export areas and in 1947 a copyright date was added for Doulton and Co Limited and four Registration (RN) Numbers for the UK, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand were used. Shaded Rims still present on larger size jugs.

  1960's & 1970's: In 1966, Royal Doulton was able to obtain protection in each country and by 1973, the Registration Numbers (RN) were completely phased out on Character and Toby Jugs. By 1973 there is no more shading around the rims of Character Jugs. In 1975 the Company's new name, "Royal Doulton Tableware Ltd." began to appear in the copyright notice. The copyright notice was changed from "Copr" to "C" also. The line marks are becoming shorter and thicker. As the decade ends, we would then describe them as "Short Marks".

  1980's&1990's: Registration Numbers on Figurines is completely phased out. Short Marks. Large script was added for character names in the early 1980's and by 1983 the words, "Hand Made and Hand Decorated" had been included underneath. Doultonville Tobies have these markings. Artists names were added to seek public recognition of their skills. Some Figurines have the words, "First year of issue" or "Final Year of issue" which identitfy exact production years. In 1998 the addition of special dating symbol is added to many new issues.

• Mint Condition: is the term originally related to the coin collecting hobby and means that a limited edition item is still in its original, like-new condition, with all accompanying documents AND box. There is NO compromise on this term. Mint Condition means perfect and nothing less. If a collectible has minor crazing or a factory glaze skip, it is NOT mint condition.

• Very Good Condition: may be used for those pieces that may possess a very minor flaw such as a bit of crazing, a factory glaze skip or pinhole. This is an "almost mint" condition. Not perfect but possessing no flaws that would seriously affect value. Even the most minor flaws must be disclosed.

• Good Condition: should be used to describe most collectibles. Crazing, factory glaze skips or pops, glaze pinholes and even some minor discoloration is allowed under this term. Though all flaws should be disclosed, even these won't affect value more than 20%. Most vintage pieces will have some wear and flaws from years of use. You may even want to be a bit suspicious of a piece that is 100 years old and is still in "mint condition".

• Acid Etching: Some ware has acid-etched decoration. After a piece has been glazed, certain parts are masked off (using a wash, rubber or other materials) and the piece is dipped in acid. This removes the glaze from an unmasked portion of a piece.

• An allotment or allocation is the number within a limited edition which a manufacturer allows to a given dealer, direct marketer or collector.

• An annual collectible is one which is issued yearly., mostly used to describe a range or merchandise such as omaments or plates.

• Art Pottery is ornamental ware either hand decorated by artists or glazed with special, controlled effects. In other words, pottery made and decorated by hand.

• A backstamp is the information contained on the back or bottom of a plate or collectible.Information can include item name, designer/artist, identification number, date of copyright, manufacturers logo, and artists' markings. These markings can help to identify when the item was produced and who the painter was. This information can also serve to document the piece as part of a limited edition series.

• Bisque Ware is Clay that has been hardened through a first firing. Bisque Firing is the first firing or baking in a high heat.

• Porcelain that contains bone ash is called Bone China. The ash is added for translucency and whiteness.

• Casting: slip is poured into plaster molds. The plaster draws moisture from the clay so that the ware can be handled.

• Porcelain dinnerware that is thicker, heavier and more durable than fine china is generally called Casual China.

• A Certificate of Authenticity is a document which accompanies a limited edition item and includes such information as the series name, item title, artist's name and/or signature, edition number, and the date of edition.

• A Christmas series consists of any collectible items which are issued to commemorate this yearly holiday, but which normally are sold and displayed all year long.

• A closed-end series is a group of collectibles which comprise a specific number-be it 4 or more. The total number of items in the series is disclosed when the series begins.

• A commemorative is an item which is created to mark a special date, holiday or even. While the term does not mean limited edition, most merchandise is limited by production time or year of issue.

• A decorative effect, Crackle (also Craquelle) reveals a network of tiny cracks that resemble crazing.
• An edition is the term which refers to the number of items created with same name and decoration. An edition can refer to items in the general range or limited merchandise.

• An Epergne is a decorative centerpiece that may have compartments or branches for fruits, flowers, etc.

• A firing period denotes the time frame which serves to limit an edition, usually ranging from 10 to 100 days. The number of items made is limited only by the capacity of the manufacturer.

• When mentioning a first issue, you would be referring to the premiere item in a series, whether it be open-ended or closed -ended.

• Flatware is dinnerware: plates, platters etc. In otherwords, pieces that lie flat or nearly flat.

• Dealers (or collectors) who deal on the gray market are those who buy through secondary sources. For example, if an account is not able to get the quantity of merchandise they require from the US, they will go to other dealers, mostly in the UK, to obtain this merchandise.

• A mark stamped with pressure is said to be Impressed. It may be done by hand or in the mold itself.

• Issue Price is the original price upon introduction of a collectible, established by its manufacturer.

• Shiny glaze containg lead oxide is called Lead Glaze.

• The term limited edition applies to any item produced with a specific number of pieces in the line - usually anywhere from 250 to 10,000 pieces. This practice became widely popular in the mid-1960's. Factors in the success of limited edition merchandise include the reputation of the firm, the artist or designer, fine craftsmanship, and a strictly numbered edition with the edition number on the piece and a certificate.

• Limited Production identifies collectibles which are produced within a specific time frame. The total number of pieces will vary with the production time as the qualifying factor. This term is somewhat misleading as thousands of items may be produced in a year, unlike limited editions. When the limited production is finished, the molds are destroyed, much like Royal Doulton's Figure and Jug of the Year ranges.

• List Price is a printed price, as in a catalogue, subject to trade and cash discounts. The suggested selling price.

• Luster is a metallic glaze which gives an iridescent effect.

• A "Nappy" is a round, incovered vegetable or salad dish usually 8" or 9" in diameter.

• An open-ended series is a collection whose issues appear at intervals, usually biannually or annually, with no limit on the number of years in which they will be produced and no upfront explanation of the total number of issues in the series.

• Unglazed porcelain (bisque ware) intended to resemble marble is called "Parian".

• Primary Market Price is the "buy-sell" arrangement whereby individuals purchase collectibles directly through a dealer at issue price.

• Secondary Market Price is the retail that a customer is willing to sell or buy a collectible that is no longer available on the primary market. These prices will vary from one territory to another depending on the popularity and demand for the subject in each particular area.

• When an item is signed and numbered, each piece is signed with a consecutive number by the artist. The edition is limited to that certain number.