Early Peter Rabbit merchandise
Have you ever wondered how the Beswick factory in Stafford came to manufacture so many Beatrix Potter characters? You may be surprised to discover that many of Beatrix Potter’s first encounters with publishing, patents and copyright were disappointing and costly. Amazingly, she had to self-publish the first 450 copies of her first book: The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She then self-published again in 1903, when she failed to reach agreement with her publishers, Frederick Warne, over her latest book: The Tailor of Gloucester.
Whether due to the enormous popularity of Beatrix Potter’s books being difficult for the publishers to manage, or simple lack of foresight on their part, Frederick Warne failed to register the American copyright for The Tale of Peter Rabbit. That error resulted in unauthorised copies being made and unlicensed sequels being written. These sequels included Peter Rabbit and Jimmy Chipmunk (1918 – Virginia Albert) and Peter Rabbit and His Ma (1917 – Louise Field), both published by the Saalfield Publishing Company, and both meticulously copyrighted. Unauthorised copying was a problem that persisted for Beatrix Potter for many years.
Beatrix Potter’s sideshows
Shortly after the publication of The Tale of Peter Rabbit Beatrix Potter realised that there would be a market for secondary merchandise featuring her characters. She would later call this merchandise her ‘sideshows’. In November 1903 Beatrix Potter wrote to Norman Warne to tell him that she had created a prototype Peter Rabbit doll. She wrote: “I have not got it right yet, but the expression is going to be lovely; especially the whiskers – (pulled out of a brush!)”.
On 28 December 1903, with rabbit dolls already being sold in Harrods and Beatrix Potter noting that “there is a run on toys copied from pictures”, she registered the patent for her own design. This meant that if someone tried to make a doll of one of her characters without permission, she would have legal recourse. The next suggestion was wallpaper, and board games, tea-sets and painting books quickly followed. Beatrix Potter was passionate about her character merchandising, and was particularly interested in creating porcelain figurines.
Peter Rabbit character figurines
The first attempt to produce ceramic models of the Peter Rabbit characters dates from 1907. Beatrix Potter modelled some clay figures and approached Royal Doulton’s Lambeth Pottery to explore the possibility of manufacturing them. Nothing more came of this idea, possibly due to legal difficulties arising from an existing arrangement with a German firm.
The production of figurines was still a project which Beatrix Potter wanted to pursue, and in 1917 she sent miniature clay models of her characters to Grimwade’s Pottery in Stoke, asking whether the firm might manufacture them. It has been suggested that those models were the same ones sent to Lambeth Pottery in 1907. Grimwades were keen to manufacture the characters and also requested permission to produce a range of china with design transfers of Beatrix Potter’s original watercolours. A range of patterned nursery tea sets were manufactured throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
In 1907, a Jemima Puddleduck figurine was created by Grimwades for Beatrix Potter’s approval, but nothing further came of this collaboration. It is believed that this was due to difficulties achieving colours which accurately reflected Beatrix Potter’s original watercolours.
Beswick character figurines
It was not until after Beatrix Potter’s death in December 1943 that the Beswick Pottery in Stoke was able to produce a suitable range of figures. The idea came about when Lucy Beswick (the chairman’s wife) visited Beatrix Potter’s home, Hill Top Farm, while holidaying in the Lake District in 1947. Beswick were already known for producing porcelain figurines including cats, dogs and horses. It was Lucy Beswick who suggested to the pottery’s chief modeller, Arthur Greddington, that Jemima Puddleduck would make an attractive figurine.
The first collection of Beswick character figurines
Copyright permission was secured from Beatrix Potter’s publishers, Frederick Warne, and Jemima Puddleduck and nine other sample figures were created. These models were diligent in their close resemblance to Beatrix Potter’s original illustrations and an initial collection of ten figures were released in 1948: Jemima Puddleduck, Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten, Timmy Tiptoes, Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs. Tittlemouse, Little Pig Robinson, Benjamin Bunny, Samuel Whiskers and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle.
This first collection was released overseas (due to the wartime restrictions on the sale of decorative china), and was a huge success. More models were added, and by 1977 all the tales were represented. The first figure to be discontinued was Duchess (with flowers) in 1967. She is now one of the rarest figurines and attracts significant prices if sold. This is because she is jet black, in contrast to the more common pastel shades, and at the time of her manufacture she proved fairly unpopular, some believe due to her slight resemblance to a piece of coal!
If you would like to learn more about collecting Beatrix Potter figurines, please click HERE to see my guide on beginning your own collection, with details of the early back stamps.
