The Vintage Club Belly Stamps

From the Vintage Collectors Club's inception in 2012 and then through 2023, the belly stamp always featured a model for the year, one that would be included as one of that year's four club pieces. It was done in gold and seemed rather fancy - fitting (in my mind, at least) of the respect Breyer's vintage molds and models deserved.

For 2012, the very first club offering was on the Clydesdale Stallion mold and included a mini Fighting Stallion, one of Breyer's most iconic molds.

At the time we didn't know what to expect so many collectors, myself included, did not realize that the belly stamp model would always be a foreshadowing of a model to come during that year. 

Nor did we automatically expect every model to have one. King, the second 2012 model, did not. There is a foam pad under his tail and nothing on his belly, probably because it would show. (I don't know of any Kings with the belly stamp and would appreciate a heads up if any of you have seen one.)

All Vintage Club models after King, though had some sort of belly stamp.

 

Halo (the Stretch Morgan) in 2013 had Commander, the Five Gaiter, who was offered in smoke.

2014 was the Semi Rearing Mustang. (My favorite mold! I was so excited!)

2015 the Running Stallion (along with a change in ink color to black.).

2016 was the Western Prancer. Breyer surprised collectors when he was released - he was a chalky!

The Clydesdale Mare (complete with her blanket) for 2017.

Legionario in 2018.

2019's belly stamp horse was the Pacer.

The iconic Western Horse for 2020. (Gold ink!)

Brighty's belly is exposed but Breyer chose to hide his stamp in 2021 (featuring the Foundation Stallion) on his base.

Then in 2022, Breyer made a huge goof. The first two club pieces featured Smoky on the stamp, so when collectors received the third piece, we were were surprised to find this:

There had been a goof in the factory and the stamp for Kingfisher, from the Birds of a Feather series, had been put on all the Coopers!

In 2023, Thunderbird, like King in 2012, did not appear to have a stamp. Savvy collectors now knew to keep looking.

It could be found under the base of his tail, similarly to Brighty. Justin Morgan was that year's belly stamp model.

Needless to say, after twelve years of (mostly) gold belly stamps featuring a mold that would be a part of that year's four offerings, I was surprised when I flipped Scorpion over to see the 2024 belly stamp.

And I was disappointed. It's not gold and it doesn't offer a sneak peek at one of this year's pieces. It's just a plain old belly stamp and not very special. (It's also missing the "s" in the word "Collectors.")

The belly stamp has been a nice perk and a fun clue into what's to come for twelve years, but I'm not participating in the Vintage Club for the belly stamps - I'm a club member for the models first and foremost. I am already looking forward to finding out what the next model will be.