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The 10th edition of Royal Doulton Jugs by Jean Dale will be released in North America on May 12th, 2008, and in the United Kingdom two weeks later on May 28th, 2008.

After tracking the prices of Royal Doulton jugs for the past six months, using dealers websites, land and internet auctions, it became obvious that the jug market was alive and well. The downward trend in prices has stopped, certainly there are moments, especially on internet auction sites where bargains appear, but overall prices are steady to slightly higher. Although it is doubtful we will see the glory days of the late 1990s and early 2000s again, we should expect a modest rise in prices over the next year or two. All bodes well for Royal Doulton Jug market.

The 10th edition is down 10% in page count from the 9th edition as we tightened up the book, while adding 26 new issues. Since our costs are in Canadian dollars, the strength of the Canadian dollar has resulted in our having to adjust the cover price in the different markets.

New to the 10th edition are three new series: First World War Military Leaders, six in the series, limited to 100 jugs each; Myths, Legends and Fantasies, four in the series, limited to 250 jugs each; and U.S. World Wars, four in the series, limited to 350 jugs each. The character jug General MacArthur has been added to the Great General Series, and the Character Jug of the Year for 2007 and 2008 were Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles respectively, limited to their year of issue. The complimentary International Collectors Club jug for 2007 was the North Staffordshire Fife Player and for 2008 the Nurse.

New images, information and colour variations have been added to Harry Simeon s Best Is Not Too Good variety of stoneware jugs and derivatives.

The addition of 26 new jugs by Royal Doulton in a two-year period certainly does not stretch the pocket book, which makes for a better outlook for the future.

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Price: $36.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Enthusiastic online auctions - grew from a few thousand five years ago to more than 10,000 daily auctions today

Includes rare stoneware pieces from Royal Doulton

This comprehensive guide captures all the prestige and rich history of Royal Doulton, and delivers the expert pricing and product details needed by today's collectors. With nearly 200 years of bone and fine china production, the craftsmanship and hand-painted detail of Royal Doulton figurines and stoneware pieces is unmatched and highly valued. This expertly written book offers: *Details of how a small English company became one of the most highly respected manufacturers of fine china *5,000+ listings and 2,500 color photographs to assist with assessing collections *Detailed coverage of the entire Royal-Doulton line.
Price: $1.39 [Notify me when price goes down.]

The most comprehensive book available on Royal Doulton ceramic character and toby jugs. Lavishly illustrated with 1,760 large photos of more than 800 separate jugs and derivatives. Includes photos of every production piece of the past century, plus more than 100 prototype jugs, many never seen before in print, and scores of photographs of trial colorway jugs. The scope, details and pictorial abundance set this book apart from any other reference on the subject. Four major sections provide, in alphabetical order by character, a large color photograph of each character in all of its sizes; a biographical or historical profile including size, modeler and model number; and production history. Photographs of backstamps, trial colorways, and close-ups of intricate handles. Prototype jugs that never made it into production are given similar treatment throughout the book. A substantial Appendix provides lists and tables to help readers navigate through the sizes, types, backstamps, modelers, model numbers, etc., and pre-prototype clay models. This book is an essential reference book for serious Royal Doulton jug collectors, general antiques and collectibles enthusiasts, and dealers. This book is a "must have" reference book for every serious Royal Doulton jug collector, as well as the general antique and collectible enthusiast and dealer..
Price: $78.75 [Notify me when price goes down.]

A complete record of all known figures, illustrated in color..
Price: $63.18 [Notify me when price goes down.]

The early Lambeth figures of John Broad, Leslie Harradine, Mark Marshall and George Tinworth continue to make gains in the market place. It is almost impossible to find a Tinworth figure for less than $2,000, while his classic pieces are in the five figure category. Noke¡¯s Vellum figures, produced at Burslem, have increased in value over 10th edition prices.

The early figures in the HN Series, from HN1 to approximately HN2000, have basically increased in value. This, of course, does not include the ¡°long run¡± figures such as the Balloon Lady, Top ¡®o the Hill, etc. Character figures such as the Carpet Seller, Orange Vendor and The Cobbler are experiencing a weakening demand.

It is the middle section of HN numbers from approximately HN2000 to HN3000 that have come under pressure from on-line auction sales. It is the supply of figures in this bracket which experienced the great demand of the 1960¡¯s and 1970¡¯s as the pre-boomers entered the collectable field with gusto. It is these collections that are now being offered for sale on on-line auctions resulting in the supply overtaking the demand. The HN Series of the last twenty years, let¡¯s say HN3000 to HN4800, are basically short issued and are either holding or increasing in value.

More figures than ever are being issued annually. In 2005 over 125 new HN numbered figures were issued. However, the number of limited edition pieces is increasing, with the issue period being shorter, which makes an interesting case for the secondary market.

The 2005 figure Lawrence of Arabia (HN4695) by Alan Maslankowski, with a limited edition of 50 pieces carried on the modern Prestige series which began in 2002. We now have four figures in this series.

Other series introduced in 2005 are Best of the Classics, Chic Trends, Natural Beauty, Petites and Street Vendors.

All prices have been reviewed and updated for the 11th edition. In some cases, between markets we have the foreign exchange difference playing a major factor.

The 11th edition is the largest ever with the body of the book being 544 pages, plus 32 pages of colour.

The 11th edition is available from your local Royal Doulton dealer, book stores, on-line book stores such as Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes&Noble.com and chapters.indigo.ca, or directly from the Charlton Press at the cover price plus postage.

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Price: $34.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]

The 4th edition of Royal Doulton Collectables will be released January 21st, 2006. The name change (formerly Royal Doulton Bunnykins) was made by the Charlton Press's desire not to cross brands. With the Beswick brand now having new owners we thought it best to keep the Royal Doulton and Beswick catalogues separate.

In the new Royal Doulton Collectables catalogue are:
Tableware: In the year and a half since the third edition of Royal Doulton Bunnykins was released many interesting discoveries have occurred in the tableware collectables field.

Thirty-six new shape/pattern combinations have been added to the pricing tables and twenty new pattern combinations have been added to the listings, several in the "rare" pattern category.

Most notable in the shape/pattern combination is the discovery of a fine white china Rex Mug, large size, combining Proposal (HW11) with Pulling on Trousers (HW2), and a Beaker, large size, with the Artist (HW1) design. In pattern combinations two of the more interesting finds are Carving the Chicken (LFc) / Medicine Time (SF1) and Wedding (LFd) / Lambeth Walk, First Version (HW16). Charles Noke's Bunnykins Teapot (D6010) rose to new highs and now catalogues at $2,000. +.

Bunnykins Banks: Finally, the Grey Rabbit has been sighted, however, the rabbit itself is not grey, but his jacket and hat are. The Royal Doulton pattern book states a grey colourway, and it was assumed the colour referred to the rabbit. We now have a grey-blue coated rabbit, and a green coated rabbit in two sizes, with mould variations in the two sizes. The grey-blue coated rabbit or First Version, carries the Tug of War backstamp.

Figures: The early earthenware issues of 1939-1940 weakened a little in pricing as on-line auctions brought more pieces to market. Billy and Mother Bunnykins are the two pieces which surface more frequently. The modern series of Bunnykins, 1972-2005, again came under pressure from the weight of the on-line auctions. The tremendous number of figures changing hands in 2004-2005 leads us to believe that the supply is moving into strong collecting hands, and while prices are trending slightly lower, the curve is starting to level out. This is always a very helpful move with any collectable for the lower price on new issues expands the collector market.

Fifty-five new DB numbered figures have been added to the 4th edition. While this is a fairly large number to add to the range, the MSRP fell due to the move of the production of these figures to China, and from what we can see, with no loss in quality. Certainly the body is lighter, but this is simply from a difference in slip makeup. A real positive is that the lower price will allow for a wider distribution of the Bunnykins figures into the market place.

Another interesting addition to the DB range are two sets of Bunnykins Christmas Tree ornaments (DB342 to DB349), each set containing four pieces. The last Christmas Tree ornament (DB-62) Santa Bunnykins now sells for over $500.

Storybook and Cartoon Characters: Ten models have been added to the Rupert Bear series, and a new series Frosty Family, with six figurines in the series, has been included. In the Disney Section thirteen models have been added to the Winnie the Pooh series, and there two new series Cinderella and a new Disney Princess Collection..
Price: $31.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]