Royal Albert Back Stamps - History and Background

Royal Albert - Back Stamps and Registered Numbers

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Backstamp History
English Bone China, Period c1894-present day, Manufactured in T.C. Wild & Sons Limited, Crown China Works, High Street, (later St Marys Works) Longton, Staffordshire, England. Royal Albert was the trading name of the firm founded by Thomas Clark Wild, founded about 1894. The firm has always been known for its fine quality bone china
	Printed or impressed marks with initials c.1896 - 1904 and was phased out around 1905.
	This is the second backstamp used and for the first time the Royal Albert Name
	The pattern name if there was one, was placed on top or inside the backstamp Sometimes the TCW was used or replaced by a pattern name or if the pattern didn't have a Name it was left blank

Note that different Colored Backstamps were placed with patterns of similar color
	The third backstamp was introduced in 1907 - 1922
	The firm became " & Sons" in 1917 and a change is backstamps. This Post WW1 mark shown is EST: 1917 to 1925
	The backs stamp was used before 1925 but references to St Marys Works were used until 1935
After the TCW was dropped in 1925 to 1927 There were several Crown China Backstamps Look at the differences in the Crowns

	Note that different Colored Backstamps were placed with patterns of similar color
Some Crown China Backstamps had some unique designs EST 1927 to 1935

	Exclusive patterns made for sale at "Lawley's of Regent Street" and "Lawley's Norfolk Pottery Store" EST 1927 - 1935
	Some Crown Stamps stated that they were " Hand Painted" EST 1927 - 1935
	"As Supplied to Her Majesty The Queen" "As Supplied to Her Magesty The Queen Mary" "As supplies to the Princess Royal" EST 1927 - 1935
	The Backstamp was again revamped in 1927. Although we can show the general progression of backstamps there are quite often subtle variations to be noted. EST 1927 - 1935

The Royal Albert became incorporated as a Limited Company in 1933.
EST 1927 - 1935	In 1935 the backstamp changed again, all references to the Crown China works had ceased, and the Bone China theme was taken up. On these Backstamps the word "Bone"was swapped for the word "Crown"			EST 1935 to 1940

EST 1931 to 1935			EST Between 1935 to 1940
	Older Bone China Backstamps EST 1935 to 1940

	Some Patterns kept the same backstamp and only the words "Crown" and "Bone" were changed. American Beauty The Crown China Backstamp dates from 1927 The Bone China Backstamp dates from 1941 to 1998
	Other patterns changed their Backstamps all together when changing from "Crown China" to "Bone China"
	Petit Point China Dates from 1932 and the first Backstamp has no reference to "Crown China" or "Bone China" It was discontinued in December 2001
	"Lady Gay" was Produced as Crown China as well as with a Backstamp with no reference to either Crown China or Bone china.
		"May Time" and "Old Swansen" were first produced under the Royal Albert name then after 1935 Crown China became it's own company.
	"As Supplied to Queen Mary" EST 1940s
	1940s "Bone" China Backstamps

	Some Older "Bone China" Backstamps had some unique designs

The Post WW2 mark saw a change in the backstamp during the 1950s until the Mid 1970s

	In the 1960s the Pearson Group acquired Royal Albert and added them to their portfolio of ceramics interests (Allied English Potteries) which at that time also included other brands like Paragon. Patterns were released with the Royal Albert name added begriming in 1991 and most ceased production by 1996
1991 to 1996	As Royal Doulton Brought or merged with other companies the Backstamps also included the named of these companies
	In 1970, all connection to the founders T.C. Wild & Sons was dropped with the renaming the company as Royal Albert Limited.
In 1972, the Pearson Group acquired Royal Doulton, which was then a listed company, and merged it with Allied English Potteries. That merger brought Royal Crown Derby, Royal Albert, Paragon and the Lawleys chain of shops into Royal Doulton (which already owned the Royal Doulton, Minton, John Beswick and Webb Corbett brands).
		Patterns such as "Old English Roses" ceased shortly after this, we are informed about 1977, but have seen nothing definite on this date. "Serena" is another pattern that enjoyed enormous success that ceased about this time. We also believe "American Beauty" has ceased production.
In 1991, Royal Doulton briefly dabbled with the Royal Albert name on their hugely successful Beswick Beatrix Potter range of figurines (which were made under license from Frederick Warne), but following adverse collector reaction, quickly saw sense and changed back.
The Royal Doulton Group was "demerged" from the Pearson Group of companies in 1993, and subsequently listed on the Stock Exchange (NB: Doulton was only earning a 5% return, whereas other companies in the Pearson Group were earning 10%). Looking back this was the "beginning of the end" for Royal Albert, Beswick and may indeed be for Royal Doulton itself.
	The Royal Albert name has always been associated with tableware's of the highest quality with patterns like "Old Country Roses" (designed by Harold Holdcroft in 1962), and the more recent very popular "Moonlight Rose" pattern. (Note: The yellow/orange colourway is called the Pacific Rose).
	20th December 2002, Royal Doulton ceased Royal Albert production in England and moved manufacture to "their state-of-the-art factory" in Indonesia. Backstamps from Patterns not Made in England dosen't have the word "England" on it.

	Some Backstamps actually say what county they were made in, besides England
This move has not been well received by collectors and consumers alike who definitely see Royal Albert as English and enjoy owning Real English Fine Bone China, consequentially we are already seeing a preference for "Made in England" items.
Patterns that were made exclusively for other Companies

Royal Albert has produced a myriad of patterns over its century of production, and will provide anyone collecting them a very appealing selection of quite fetching patterns to choose from, at, for the moment, a quite modest outlay.

Backward or Miss - Printed Backstamps
	If you have More Backstamps Please send them to lisa@royalalbertpatterns.com
Registered Numbers
Backstamps can provide one indicator to age, pattern and registered numbers can also provide another. For instance pattern number 4534 was used in 1925 and 4788, was in use by around 1930. And a registered number can be traced to a year of registration in either of Geoffrey Goddens excellent reference books "Encyclopedia of British Porcelain Manufacturers" or "Encyclopedia of British Pottery & Porcelain Marks" under Registered Designs.

	The Post WWI Backstamp is EST 1917 to 1925 But the Registration number which dates to 1931, A pattern was not always registered prior to it's release. And some backstamps have two Reg. Nº's And some Reg. Nº's are assigned to several patterns
Reg. Nº 730452		Blossom
Reg. Nº 749633		Buttercup, Cherry Ripe, Christmas Rose, Dainty Dinah, Dorothy, Florette, Foxglove, Happyland, Jazz, Lady Gay, Marlborough, Narcissus, Rosalie, Russet, Springtime, The Walton, Wembley
Reg. Nº 749102		Trigo
Reg. Nº 761682		June
Reg. Nº 761696		Virginia
Reg. Nº 763439		*Aldiner*
Reg. Nº 763616		Dovecot
Reg. Nº 767526		Honeysuckles, Springtime
Reg. Nº 769204		Foxglove
Reg. Nº 769206		Crocus
Reg. Nº 769616		April Showers (Brown), Blackthorn, Buttercup, Corn Cockle, Florette, Gloria(Black), Japonia, Happyland, Lady Gay, Lilac Time, Pansy, Poppyland, Royalty, Valencia
Reg. Nº 769618		Laburnm
Reg. Nº 773311		Royalty
Reg. Nº 774783		Greenwood Tree
Reg. Nº 776676		Petit Point China
Reg. Nº 784772		Catkin, Daffodil, Embassy, Hydrangea, Lady Gay, Pansy, Springtime
Reg. Nº 787854		Hydrangea
Reg. Nº 789374		Lido
Reg. Nº 791148		Lay Gay
Reg. Nº 794026		Laburnm
Reg. Nº 794028		Alpine, Bohemia, Dorothy, Laburnm, Rainbow, Rhodian, Star of Eve, Valencia
Reg. Nº 794373		Charmaine
Reg. Nº 799933		Blossom Time
Reg. Nº 808265		Iris
Reg. Nº 821113		Prudence
Reg. Nº 808613		Devonshire Lace
Reg. Nº 822899		Loyalty
Reg. Nº 823059		Tulip
Reg. Nº 823404		Mary's Garden
Reg. Nº 828436		Pansy Shawl
Reg. Nº 829286		Needlepoint
Reg. Nº 830479		Harebell
Reg. Nº 832394		Lady Hamilton
Reg. Nº 832881		Albany Blue, Albany Green, Canterbury
Reg. Nº 836506		Royal Brocade
Reg. Nº 837063		Valentine
Reg. Nº 839038		Fragrance
Reg. Nº 839056		Tea Rose
Reg. Nº 839142		Nosegay
Reg. Nº 839184		Chelsea Bird
Reg. Nº 839329		Serena
Reg. Nº 843317		Primulette
Reg. Nº 855747		Milady

	*Astbury Fine China* Royal Albert Works Staffordshire, England: In Tunstall, Stoke. The factory was built in 1858. Between 1867 to 1874 was occupied by Turner, Goddard & Co. From 1875 occupied by Alfred Meakin, later years Astbury China then Holdenby Design occupied the works. In 1999 Ravensdale Pottery Ltd occupied the works Astbury Fine Bone China of Staffordshire Ltd: A limited company, number 02187835, dissolved 08/03/1995. John Astbury Born 1688 died 1743 - Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire. He was a pioneer of English potting technology and earliest of the great Staffordshire potters. *Not Royal Albert China
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