Collecting Royal Doulton Bunnykins is a thriving hobby, with about 400 figures to collect ranging from the common (£10-20) to limited editions (£50-£250). At any one moment there are between 1500 and 2000 Bunnykins figures for sale on Ebay with the rarest figures commanding high prices. The Bunnykins range is cleverly designed to appeal both to the gift market and collectors. Figures with a Christmas or Easter theme are fairly commonly issued, and there is a Bunnykins to represent most trades and professions. To appeal the collector market there are frequent limited edition and collectors club issues.

This article specialises in the Bunnykins figures. Originally six figures were produced in 1939, production ceasing during World War II. These six original figures are very rare and cost between £500 and £2000. The six original figures are "Billy”, "Mary”, "Farmer”, "Mother”, "Freddie”, and "Reggie”. Of these "Mary” turns up on Ebay the most, one recently selling for £681. Less common figures sell for more, with "Reggie” recently achieving £1500 on Ebay.

After the war production was not resumed until Royal Doulton purchased the Beswick factory and the first of the modern figures was produced in 1972. This range of figures is labelled "DB” and now numbers some 400 figures, varying in rarity and value. Several limited editions have been produced, most notably, Happy Millennium Bunnykins Tableau, of which only two have been produced (one in the Royal Doulton Museum and the other sold at auction in 2000 for £9,800).

Ebay has certainly driven prices of Bunnykins down, and Ebay auctions for common Bunnykins rarely reach more t

han half the retail price or book value. However, the limited editions continue to hold prices well especially the limited editions with low issue numbers. To illustrate, the Bunnykins Oompah Band, comprising a sousaphone player, trumpeter, cymbals player, drummer and band major has been issued three times. The first, a red version, was issued between 1984 and 1990 and sell for £40-45 per figure on Ebay. The second edition, a blue version, was produced in a limited edition of 250, and sells for £200-300 per figure. Interestingly the 3rd version (green) was also produced in a limited edition of 250 but has not been seen by the author on Ebay.

As well as limited editions prototypes and one off variations occasionally come onto the market. Genuine examples generate high prices on Ebay, recently a prototype of Father Bunnykins, which usually sells for £15-£20, sold for £700.

Bunnykins are great to collect and whilst the prices are low they make a good investment. The low prices currently being seen on Ebay are not sustainable in the long term, and it is likely that the number of figures on the market will reduce in the near future prompting a rebound on the prices. So, buy them now whilst they're great value!

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