Pattern Numbers
In 1871 Wedgwood began to add prefix letters to new pattern numbers to categorise the different classes of ware. These letters are a useful guide for identification. The breakdown of the prefix code is as follows:

A - Ornamental earthenware or Queen's Ware fancies 1871 - 1872 (with and without gold).
Queen's Ware dinnerware 1872-1875 (with and without gold).
Queen's Ware dinnerware not gilt 1875 -1932.

B - Queen's Ware toilet wares 1872 - 1875 (with and without gold).
Queen's Ware toilet wares not gilt 1875 - 1933

C - Queen's Ware fancies and Majolica with gold 1873 - 1875.
Tiles painted or printed and tinted 1875 - 1902.
Queen's Ware fancies not gilt 1875-1957.

D - Tiles block printed 1886 - 1902
Veronese ware 1930-c. 1940

F - Queen's Ware fancies with gold 1875-1957

G - Queen's Ware dinner and toilet ware with gold 1875-1955.

H - Marsden's Sgraffito 1888-1902

K - Majolica 1888-c. 1920

M - Majolica 1873-c. 1888
Queen's Ware fancies with and without gold 1872 - 1873.
Queen's Ware fancies not gilt 1873-1875

R - Marsden's Tiles c.1880-1888

S - Allen's fine art wares 1878 - 1883
Slip decorated wares
Marsden's vases c.1883-1888
Bone china teaware introduced 1931.
Handcraft china tea c. 1930-1940

T - Tiles c.1888-1902
Queen's Ware dinnerware introduced 1932.

V - Impressed glazed tiles, high relief 1889-c. 1902.

W - Bone china dinnerware introduced 1919.

X - Bone china dinnerware 1879-1919

Z - Bone china fancies (including Fairyland Lustre) 1879-1957.

Earthenwares, Second Pre-Fix Letter

About 1920 a second letter, K L or M was added to the Queen's Ware pre-fix numbers in order to show whether the painting was:

K Underglaze
L Under and Onglaze
M Onglaze

Earthenwares, Third Pre-Fix Letter

A third letter H was added to those patterns that were free-hand-painted.

Bone China Second Pre-Fix Letter

Except for one colour prints, practically all bone china patterns are onglaze so that no distinguishing marks are necessary. However, if the pattern was free-hand painted the letter H was added to the first pre-fix letter and for 'Decal' coloured prints the letter D.

Adapted from the publication 'Wedgwood Ceramics l846-l959' by Maureen Batkin, published by Richard Dennis in l982.