What is The Hamilton Collection and when did it begin?

The Hamilton Collection is a collectibles brand that became widely known in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It formed as part of The Bradford Exchange, a firm established in 1973 in the United States. The Hamilton Collection focused on limited-edition items such as porcelain plates, dolls, sculptures, and ornaments. Collectible plates became one of its most recognisable products, often issued in numbered editions with certificates. By the mid-1980s, millions of plates had been sold worldwide. Many series were released in sets, sometimes with annual issues that encouraged collectors to subscribe and build complete runs over several years. Artists were often credited on the reverse side, which added a sense of authorship and collectability. Production numbers varied, though many editions were capped at figures like 14,500 or 28 firing days, a term used to describe the number of production cycles rather than an exact quantity. This approach helped create a sense of rarity, even if the total number produced was still quite high compared with older antiques.