Thousands of pieces of memorabilia featuring a conspicuous typo that would have made Del Boy proud have gone on sale ahead of the Queen’s “Platinum Jubbly” celebrations in June.
Souvenir aficionados looking for something special to mark the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s ascension to the throne can now buy a historic “piece of stupidity” after a wholesaler that purchased 10,800 misprinted plates and cups was inundated with requests for individual pieces.
Earlier this year, Wholesale Clearance UK inadvertently garnered widespread attention when it advertised a large quantity of Platinum Jubilee memorabilia on its website, notable for what it described as a “slight typo mistake”.
The stock, comprising decorative teacups, mugs and plates, featured a likeness of Her Majesty accompanied by the words “To commemorate the Platinum Jubbly of Queen Elizabeth II”.
The company, which sells in bulk, was flooded with inquiries from would-be buyers. Hopeful customers included individual collectors but also investors eager to get their hands on the whole lot and turn a profit.
Andy White, head of sales for Wholesale Clearance UK, said: “Some of the prices we were being offered were well over what we were advertising it for. It was almost a bidding war.”
Such was the buzz surrounding the faulty tableware it even spawned a rash of “Jubbly” counterfeits, some of which the wholesaler discovered being listed for hundreds of pounds on online marketplaces.
Mr White said: “We’ve found lots of companies online copying it and [fake] items going for £300 a unit. It was almost taking the fun element out of it.”
The wholesaler managed to get the copycat crockery removed and decided to work with a discount online retailer, the Clearance Aisle, to sell the authentic pieces direct to consumers via a dedicated website.
Customers can purchase a limited-edition bone china teacup-and-saucer set for £29.99 each, while a ceramic version costs £24.99. Bone china side plates are £29.99 each, and ceramic dinner plates are priced at £19.99.
Each piece comes with an authenticity label featuring a unique number so customers know they are getting the genuine article.
In addition to the original limited edition memorabilia, the online store also features novelty items, including drinks coasters and water bottles intentionally inscribed with the now infamous “Jubbly” misprint.
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Mr White said he was pleased the typo has been the cause of so much amusement and he hoped the crockery would continue to bring a smile to people’s faces.
He said: “There’s a lot of horrible things going on in the world. We want to give everybody a chance to own a bit of stupidity.”
The quirky merchandise is already proving popular with collectors in the UK and further afield – orders have come in from Australia, Canada and the US, and Mr White expects to sell out completely.
But there is one person who he fears might not deem his wares their cup of tea: the monarch herself.
When it comes to sending the Queen a piece of the commemorative crockery, the salesman said he was not “entirely sure” such a gesture would be welcomed.
“Would we get done for treason?” he asked.
