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The 'Bossons Ivorex' Plaques

also with illustrations of the similar 'Osborne' Ivorex plaques

Note - The initials AO is often engraved on the front of the Osborne Ivorex plaques, Bossons do not have these markings.

With the AO marks gone, the gold Bossons Ivorex sticker attached and a more colourful painted plaque, you can tell the difference between Osborne and Bossons. There are some Osborne brightly coloured piece, but Bossons seems to use more pastel colour.

A comparison between 'Bossons Ivorex' and 'Osborne Ivorex'

When Bossons started up there Ivorex, there were no Osborne or AO markings on their pieces. Bossons removed them when making their Ivorex pieces. That's why some pieces are marked Osborne Deltic as Walter Davis helped Bossons out when starting up their Ivorex line. Bossons then later marked them Bossons Ivorex with the back sticker

When Bossons bought out the Osborne Ivorex co in 1970 they bought it all, even unfinished pieces that Osborne had in stock.

Bossons took the leftover moulds and unfinished pieces to make their own. The early pieces at start up are marked Osborne & Deltic. Copyright 1976 Osborne Deltic denotes when Walter Davis (who worked for Arthur Osborne for over 50 yrs.), helped Bossons start up "their" Bossons Ivorex pieces.

After the Deltic markings came the Bossons engraving and also the little gold foil Bossons Ivorex stickers.

Ivorex pieces that are unfinished and with the AO or Arthur/Osborne engravings would be the unpainted Osborne pieces that Bossons brought out from the Faversham factory and brought up to the Bossons factory.

Bossons took out the AO and Osborne marks after the very first and early Osborne Deltic marks and just had their Bossons marks and stickers.

You will find unfinished Osborne pieces, you will see Osborne Deltic pieces, and you will see Bossons unfinished Ivorex pieces.

Charles Dickens

Here is the perfect example as to how close an Osborne is to a Bossons Ivorex plaque. Notice how they are painted almost identical. If a person found these plaques and the sticker and stamp mark were not present the it could be difficult to identify the manufacturer.

By putting each piece side by side as you look at the lettering at the bottom you will notice the Osborne lettering is closer together than the Bossons piece. The Osborne's letter "S" on Dickens extends 1 3/4" from the left of the plaque where as the 'S" in Dickens on the Bossons plaque to the right extends 2".

The second difference is that the Osborne plaque is dated AO 1909 just to the right of his head where as the Bossons piece does not show any markings.

The third difference is quite obvious on the back of the plaque, Osborne stamp versus the Bossons sticker. Each plaque is the same size of 4" x 5 1/2" (5 sided)

Bossons Ivorex & Osborne Ivorex Equivalents

Ann Hathaway's Cottage (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 9.25 x 6.25 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Available

The similar Osborne Ivorex plaques in 4 1/2 x 3 1/4 and 9 1/4 x 6 1/4. Notice the two different titles on the 4 1/2 inch plaque, one with the added words Shottery.

Ann Hathaway's Cottage (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 9.25 x 6.25 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Available

The similar Osborne Ivorex plaques in 4 1/2 x 3 1/4 and 9 1/4 x 6 1/4. Notice the two different titles on the 4 1/2 inch plaque, one with the added words Shottery.

An Irish Cottage (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 9.25 x 6.25 inches.

Rarity - Very Rare

The similar Osborne Ivorex plaques in 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 and 5 1/4 x 3 3/4.

Auld Brig of Doon, Allway

Rarity - One of the Rarest

Bishop Lloyds Palace, Chester (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 8 x 7.5 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

Photograph kindly supplied by Scott C in NJ

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaque. Dimensions 8 x 7 1/2 inches.

Blarney Castle (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 10.5 x 7.5 inches.

Rarity - Very Rare

The similar Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 10 x 7 1/2 and 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches.

Brig O'Balgownie (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 9.5 x 5.75 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

Brig O'Balgownie in Aberdeen, Scotland. Portrays ancient bridge built in 1290 that crosses the river 'Don' in 'Old Aberdeen'.

The similar Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 9 1/2 x 6 and 4 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches.

Burns Cottage (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 9.5 x 6 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

The similar Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 9 1/2 x 6 and 4 1/2/ x 3 1/4 inches.

Burns Cottage Interior (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 9.5 x 6 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 9 1/2 x 6 and 4 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches.

Caernarvon Castle (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 10 1/2 x 7. The original Welsh spelling which is almost always used today is Caernarfon. The anglicised version is spelt Caernarvon

Rarity - Very Rare

Bossons Ivorex Caernarvon Castle

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 11 x 7 1/2 and 5 1/4 x 3 3/4 inches.

(Photographs supplied by Scott C).

Canterbury Cathedral (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 11 x 7.25 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 11 x 7 1.4 and 4 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches.

Charles Dickens (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 4 x 5.5 inches

Rarity - Very Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Charles Dickens (5 sided) and Charles Dickens in his study Gadshil. Dimensions 4 x 5 1/2 and 8 x 6 inches.

(Photographs supplied by Scott C).

Chester Cathedral (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 11.5 x 7.5 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 11 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches. The older Osborne plaque depicts what the grounds of the Cathedral looked like way back, when with gravestones. Eventually the Cathedral decided to remove the gravestones to the perimeter of their boundaries and grass over the graves, making maintenance of the area much easier. The Bossons plaque shows what the Cathedral grounds look like in modern times without the gravestones.

Conway Castle and Bridge (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 11.5 x 7.5 inches.

Rarity - Rare

Photograph kindly supplied by Scott C in NJ

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 11 1/2 x 7 1/2 and 5 1/4 x 3 3/4 inches.

Durham Cathedral

Bossons Ivorex Plaque.

Dimensions 8 x 10.5 inches high

Rarity - One of the Rarest

Dover Castle (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 11.25 x 7.25 inches.

Rarity - Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 11 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches.

Edinburgh Castle and National Gallery (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 11.5 x 7.5 inches.

Rarity - Rare

Photograph kindly supplied by Scott C in NJ

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 11 1/2 x 7 1/2 and 4 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches.

Enys Dodman, Lands End

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 11.5 x 7.5 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

Rarity - One of the Rarest

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 11 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches.

Exeter Cathedral (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 8 x 6 1/2 inches.

Rarity - Very Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 8 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches.

(Photographs supplied by Scott C).

Faversham Church (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 9 x 7 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Available

Rarity - Fairly Rare

Faversham Church with original box and pamphlet

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 9 x 7 inches.

Gods Providence House, Chester (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 6.25 x 8 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Available

Rarity - Fairly Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 10 3/4 x 6 3/4 and 8 x 6 1/2 inches.

Houses of Parliament (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 11.25 x 7.25 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques "Houses of Parliament London". Dimensions 11 1/4 x 7 1/4 and 4 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches.

Kenilworth Castle

Rarity - One of the Rarest

Lincoln Cathedral (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 8 x 6 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

Bossons Ivorex Lincoln Cathedral

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 11 1/4 x 7 1/4 and 8 x 6 1/4 inches.

(Photographs supplied by Scott C).

Newport Arch, Lincoln (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 8 x 6 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 8 x 6 inches.

Palace of Holyrood House

Bossons Ivorex Plaque. Dimensions 11 x 7.25 inches. Produced 1981 to 1992.

Rarity - Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 111/2 x 7 1/2 and 4 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches.

Stirling Bridge

Rarity - One of the Rarest

Stirling Castle

Bossons Ivorex Plaque.

Currently only one known example of this plaque

Rarity - One of the Rarest

St Michaels Mount, Cornwall (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 11.25 x 7.25 inches.

Rarity - Very Rare

Bossons Ivorex St Michaels Mount

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques.

From left to right, St. Michaels Mount Cornwall 11 1/2" x 7 1/2" and St. Michaels Mount Cornwall 4 1/2" x 3 1/4"

(Photographs supplied by Scott C).

St Paul's Cathedral (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 8 x 10 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques.

The first photograph shows St. Pauls Cathedral 8" x 10" (first version with lamp posts is pictured on the right. Second version without lampposts is on the left). The second photograph is the St. Pauls Cathedral 3 1/4" x 4 1/2' plaque.

The Choir Chester Cathedral (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 11.5 x 7.5 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

Photographs kindly supplied by Scott C

The plaque on the left and box was used by paintress Barbara Potts, Ken Potts wife who worked at the factory for 40 years. She used this plaque to copy off of for the other Choir pieces she was painting. Note that there is even spilled paint on the box lid from where she painted at her work station. She even marked the outside of the box as a "painting sample" with the initials BP.

The Choir Chester (Osborne Ivorex)

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaque. The Choir Chester Cathedral 11 1/2" x 7 1/2" (Note - Notice the hanging cross up in the middle of the plaque. Osborne made two versions, one with cross, one without. Bossons version is without)

The Guildhall Faversham (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 9 x 7 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

Bossons Ivorex "The Guildhall Faversham

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 9 x 7 inches.

(Photographs supplied by Scott C).

The Harbour, Newquay (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 9.5 x 6.5 inches.

Rarity - Extremely Rare

Bossons Ivorex, The Harbour, Newquay

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. Dimensions 9 1/4 x 6 1/4 inches.

The Home of Charles Dickens Gadshill Rochester (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 8.25 x 6 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaque.

The Home of Charles Dickens Gadshill 8 1/4" x 6"

The Old Curiosity Shop (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced between 1981 and 1992. Dimensions 8.25 x 6 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

This London shop still in existence immortalised by Charles Dickens in his novel.

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaque. The Old Curiosity Shop London 5" x 4" (Walter Davis design) and on the right The Old Curiosity Shop London 4 1/2" x 3 1/4"

The Priors Gateway, Canterbury Cathedral

Bossons Ivorex. Produced between 1981 and 1992. Dimensions 6 x 7 3/4 inches.

Rarity - Extremely Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaque. Priors Gateway plaque. Notice the lower right bottom the AO and also Ivorex stamp on the backside. The plaques sizes are the same as the Bossons plaque. This Priors plaque is dated 1920, a year before the Western Towers Canterbury Cathedral was made (1921).

The Roman Baths, Bath (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 11 x 7.5 inches.

Rarity - Extremely Rare

Photograph kindly supplied by Scott C in NJ

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques.

The Roman Baths, Bath 11" x 7 1/2"

The Royal Pavilion, Brighton (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 9.25 x 6.25 inches.

Rarity - Extremely Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. The Royal Pavilion Brighton 9" x 6"

The Twa Brigs, Ayr (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 9.5 x 6 inches.

Rarity - Very Rare

The equivalent Osborne Ivorex plaques. The Twa Brigs O Ayr 9 1/2" x 6"

Tower Bridge (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex Plaque. Produced 1981 to 1992.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

Similar Osborne Ivorex plaques.

Left - Tower Bridge London 4 1/2" x 3 1/4"

Top R - Tower Bridge London 9 1/4" x 6 1/4"

Bottom R - Tower Bridge London 11 1/2" x 7 1/2".

Tower of London (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 9.25 x 6.25 inches.

Rarity - Fairly Rare

The similar Osborne Ivorex plaques.

Tower of London 11 1/2" x 7 1/2" (left)

Tower of London 4 1/2" x 3 1/4" (right)

Uriah Heep (Ivorex)

5 x 3 oval plaque.

Rarity - Extremely Rare

Also see similar Mr Pickwick oval plaque

The similar Osborne Ivorex plaques. Uriah Heep 5" x 3" oval.

Western Towers, Canterbury Cathedral (Ivorex)

Bossons Ivorex. Produced 1981 to 1992. Dimensions 8 x 10.75 inches.

Rarity - One of the Rarest

This plaque was purchase by an American collector direct from a Bossons paintress, so this piece may have never entered circulation to the general public.