The Official International Wade Collectors Club

Betty Boop resin giftware range

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:20:53 +0000

Betty Boop is an iconic character and is extremely popular worldwide!

We are delighted to have in stock a fantastic range of officially licensed Betty Boop giftware

We have Keychains, money boxes, miniature figures and larger figures, just click the images below to find out more:-(please note these are not Wade branded products).

Betty Boop Key chains

Betty Boop alphabet figures

Betty Boop Mini Figures

Betty Boop Giftware

Nat West – Did you know????

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:52:06 +0000

Did you know that back in 2006 when the smaller gold Woody pig was being produced Wade also produced a few samples in all over platinum. These pieces carry a prototype backstamp.

We are now able to show a picture of this piece which will be much sought after, as there are believed to be only three in existence!

Have you seen one? Let us know if you have.

Check out the History of Wade & NatWest pigs, by clicking here

Nat West Pigs – a brief history

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:47:30 +0000

The first thing to remember when collecting Nat West Pigs is that Wade were not the only company to produce them. But of course it is those produced by Wade of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent which were modelled by Alan Maslankowski,which have become so collectable in recent years. So remember, if your NatWest pig doesn’t actually have the incised Wade England logo or the backstamp of Wade on the base, it wasn’t made by Wade.

It was back in 1983 that the promotion began. The Natwest Bank in the UK wanting to attract youngsters to save with them came up with the idea of a family of pigs for children to collect. The collection began with baby Woody for investors who opened the account with a minimum of £5. All the rest of the collection were given away free. After six months, if the account contained at least £25 they received Annabel, and then after one year, the account needed to have grown to at least £50 to qualify for Maxwell. At eighteen months if the account contained £75 they were rewarded with Lady Hillary. Finally after two years, if the account had grown to at least £100, Sir Nathaniel Westminster was given to those who had managed to stay the course.

The offer ended in 1988 and altogether Wade produced more than 5 million pigs, relatively few children managed to complete the set – £100 was a large sum for a junior saver at that time. Consequently Sir Nathaniel was not in great demand and so fewer were produced. Today he is worth around £60 to £70. It is interesting to note that Maxwell the son, was named after Sir Robert Maxwell, the disgraced newspaper magnate. The NatWest bank did little to promote that figure, the release of which coincided with his downfall. Less were produced which now reflects on its value which is around £30 to £40.

Ten years later in 1998 NatWest once again approached Wade to add a further pig to the series and it was Ken Holmes who modelled Cousin Wesley, the sixth in the series of pigs which was released in 1999 to promote a NatWest personal savings bond for children which required an investment of £1000. Perhaps because of the high investment involved, this promotion seemed to go almost unnoticed by both collectors and investors and many people still don’t know of Cousin Wesley’s existence even though Wade produced in excess of 5000 of them. Consequently Wesley in now highly sort after by collectors who are now, belatedly becoming aware of his existence. An authentic Wesley sells for between £200 and £250.

Wade also produced 25 gold Woody’s for the NatWest Bank which were meant for the directors of the company but a small number were also given as prizes to a few lucky customers. All had certificates of authenticity with them and rarely come on the market.

Finally, Beware! There seem to be a number of counterfeit Wesley’s on offer both on the internet and at collector’s fairs. This entrepreneurial Wesley was not produced by Wade even though it carries their backstamp. He is smaller than the genuine Wesley, his colouring is different and he has larger feet. If in any doubt contact the Official Wade Collectors Centre or The Wade Collectors Club for advise and finally, remember as always buy from reputable dealers.

In 2006 Wade produced a smaller gold Woody an edition of 250 and then in 2007 a gold Annabel, a run of 400 and in 2008 there was a further Wade pig produced for NatWest. This was the all over gold Maxwell piggy bank an edition of 400. All these three gold pigs are smaller than the originals from the 80s, with a printed rather than embossed backstamp and came with a certificate of authenticity.

Continuing the piggy theme, in February 2011 Wade launched a new piggy bank line with a Lady Margaret –grandmother of the family and later in the year a grandfather, Lord Henry was released. There is a pink colourway of Lady Margaret that was sold at the Wade Fair in Stoke-on-Trent on 3^rd April 2011. This was a very limited edition of just 75 and a green version of Lord Henry which was sold at the Aylesbury show on the 2nd October 2011 again a 75 limited edition, now difficult to find and valued at between £90 and £100

Gold jacket versions of both Lord Henry and Lady Margaret have been produced, limited editions of just 6 pieces which have been used as promotional pieces through the Wade Club. There is also a light blue colourway of Lady Margaret, only 16 of these were made!

Wade have recently (February 2012) announced another member of the extended pig family which they are producing – Master Richard, cousin to Annabel and Maxwell. He will b e on sale from early March costing £35. A good investment and another member of the family to add to your collections.

Finally C&S have been aware of a smaller version of the Woody Pig in an all over platinum.

silver colour for some time (see picture) and are now able along with the Wade Collectors Club to show a photo of the piece for the first time. A C&S and Club exclusive. Wow. We wonder what he would sell for at auction? Produced only as samples, there are onlybelieved to be three in existence.

by David Chown

C&S Collectables.

(An Official Wade Collectors Centre)

Did you know???? click here to find out more…

Wade Collectors Fair 25th March 2012

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:43:05 +0000

Wade Collectors Fair

Sunday March 25^th 2012 10am – 2pm

North Stafford Hotel,

Winton Square, Stoke, ST4 2AE

The weekend of 24/25^th March will be the start of our 2012 Wade events.

Sunday 25^th March will see the ballroom at the North Stafford Hotel buzzing with Wade collectors, all looking to find missing pieces to their collections from some of the UK’s top dealers who will be exhibiting at the show.

The Club will have some fantastic specials, including our new Master Richard pig money box in a special limited edition colourway of only 75! Our fabulous cockatoo model which will be a limited edition of just 100 pieces, both sure to be great additions to any Wade collection.

Entrance is again just £3 which includes our orange Cat Whimsie. The cat will also make an appearance in the bran tub throughout 2012 with different colours introduced at the shows.

Other specials on the day will include a special colourway Classy Chick Betty Boop from C&S Collectables and their popular Wheel of Fortune which will also make its first appearance of 2012.

For those wanting to make a weekend of it, we have a hospitality package on offer which includes an evening of entertainment and a delicious buffet, raffles, quizzes and a fun game of bingo. All this along with B&B accommodation at the hotel, so you can just walk downstairs in the morning for the show! Priced at just £150 for a double room or £80 for a single, just call us at the club to book your place!

The hotel is in the heart of Stoke directly opposite the railway station making it a commuters dream!

It looks set to be another busy and fun filled event, so why not make your plans to join us there!

Dates for your Diary

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:04:26 +0000

We are pleased to advise you of the dates to put into your new diaries for the next 12 months.

Sunday 25th March 2012

Wade Collectors Fair, Stoke-on-Trent,

Sunday 8th July 2012

Wade Collectors Meet, Arundel,

Sat/Sun 28th/29th July 2012

Wade Summer Fest, Harrisburg, PA, USA

Sunday 30th September 2012

Wade Collectors Fair, Aylesbury, Bucks

Sat/Sun 20/21st October 2012

Wade/Tea Fair, Windsor, CT, USA

Saturday 1st December 2012.

Wade Christmas Bonanza, Arundel.

2011 SURVIVAL ANIMALS STAND

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:34:25 +0000

Now is the chance for those eligible to purchase the display stand for the 2011 Survival Animals.

Designed for the 9 animals, it will make a magnificent display for the Survival Whimsies.

A prototype is shown, actual stand will be guilded and etched in gold.

Click here, or the pictures to be taken to our on-line secure shop.

Order accepted until 14th February 2012 after that the pieces will be made and despatched end February/early March 2012.

Wade Whimsies shortlisted for Gift of the Year 2012!

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:31:32 +0000

We are pleased to announce that our Wade Whimsie range has been shortlisted in the UK’s leading gift industry awards. Run by the the Gift Association.

Their Gift of the Year awards are very prestigious in the gift industry and just to be shortlisted is a great honor and very exciting for both The Wade Collectors Club and C&S Collectables, who’s Whimsies were also within the selection.

The Winners will be announced on Sunday 5th February at Spring Fair NEC, Birmingham, UK

10 year loyalty piece

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:47:20 +0000

We are pleased to introduce our 10 year loyalty piece for our Club Members.

Leala (French for loyal), will be available to those who have 10 years or more continuous membership to the Club. You will know if you are eligible as an order form will be sent to you on the anniversary of your membership.

Just click the picture to order.

Please note orders can only be accepted from members who have received an order form showing their eligibility.

2012 is our Jessie van Hallen year, and Leala is a Jessie van Hallen model.

Ruddy Duck Whimsies

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:33:28 +0000

New Wade Ruddy Duck gloss Whimsie.

Based on the original Wade Ruddy Duck released in the 1970′s for the first time we present this piece as a Wade Whimsie.

Brightly coloured and standing only 1″ high this exquisite pieces is issued in a limited edition of only 250.

Comes boxed and with numbered certificate of authenticity.

Delivery is expected in February 2012, chick here or the picture above to order.

Seasons Greetings

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:32:09 +0000

We would like to wish all Wade Collectors the very best wishes for the Festive Season and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

We look forward to a great 2012 of Wade Collecting!

The Club is now closed for the Christmas period, we will re-open Monday 9th December 2012.