Collecting Toy Soldiers in the 21st Century

by James Opie, Max Hastings (Foreword by)

Overview

This book serves as an update of the author's successful Collecting Toy Soldiers (Collins, 1987; pb edition, New Cavendish, 1991). In it, James Opie gives the collector the benefit of thirty years experience as the world's leading authority on traditional toy soldiers (as opposed to model soldiers used in wargaming, etc) and a lifetime as a collector himself. This book combines authoritative advice on all aspects of collecting, including price trends and pitfalls to avoid when buying or selling at auction, with informative and often-amusing anecdotes from James' own experiences. Even those who bought the first one should welcome its appearance, as should anyone with an interest in this fascinating hobby.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399014403
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	12/28/2021
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	7.60(w) x 10.20(h) x (d)

About the Author

James Opie is the toy soldier consultant to Bonham's auctioneers and recognized as one of the world's leading experts on the subject. He has a very significant collection of his own, which he has been building since childhood. For over a quarter of a century, until his recent retirement, James Opie was also editor and buyer for the Military and Aviation Book Society and various other book clubs. He has written seven previous books on various aspects of toy soldier collecting.

Table of Contents

Foreword Max Hastings ix

Acknowledgements xi

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 The Lure of the Toy Soldier 1

Reasons to collect, collecting philosophy, how large is a collection, stages through which a collector goes, introductory thoughts on toy and figure design

Chapter 2 From Ancient Figurine to 21st Century Collectible 16

How Toy Soldiers have evolved

Chapter 3 Collecting Toy Soldiers in the Twenty-first Century 43

Changes since 1985, sources, collecting fashions, the Internet, digital photography, shows, auctions, the joys and sorrows of collecting

Chapter 4 Toy Soldier Identification 59

Manufacturers by method and material, roles of period, style, design, uniforms

Chapter 5 The Importance of Condition 79

Effect on price, terminology, fakes, checking for sets and boxes

Chapter 6 What Sort of Collection? 83

Collecting highs, collecting for reference, display, icons or cameos, shaping the collection

Chapter 7 Concentrating on Specifics 96

Romans, collecting hierarchy, depicting history and heroes

Chapter 8 Defining a Specialised Collection: Highlanders 110

Minimum and larger extents for specialising, an example

Chapter 9 Collections for Small Spaces and Budgets 123

Cameos: my cameo history, more suggestions and possibilities

Chapter 10 Having Fun with Toy Soldiers 141

Example display collection: The Boxer rebellion. Other activities: Casting, conversion and restoration, model making, competitions, campaigning, wargaming, collecting related material

Chapter 11 Moving and Showing Toy Soldiers 161

Transportation, packing, display, exhibiting, storage and care

Chapter 12 Values, and philosophies for dealing with them 171

Toy soldier prices, the market in different types, investment and the RPI, buying and selling costs, the value of fashions, philosophy, significance

Bibliography 189

Appendix: List of New Toy Soldier manufacturers 195

Index 197

Editorial Reviews

In a field full of pitfalls, the serious enthusiast will find this guide covers all of the main concerns: getting started, identification, and condition, looking after the item, buying and selling and price and trend predictions. For the toy soldier collector, an absolute must have.

Miniature Wargames

This is the best Toy Soldier book I have ever seen. It has wonderful photos and showcases companies I have never heard of, but whose figures I would like to acquire. Opie provides sound advice as to how to build up a collection and his book allows a reader to revisit childhood friends.

Toy Solder & Model Figure

This is the best Toy Soldier book I have ever seen. It has wonderful photos and showcases companies I have never heard of, but whose figures I would like to acquire. Opie provides sound advice as to how to build up a collection and his book allows a reader to revisit childhood friends.

Toy Soldier and Model Figure magazine

This is the best Toy Soldier book I have ever seen. It has wonderful photos and showcases companies I have never heard of, but whose figures I would like to acquire. Opie provides sound advice as to how to build up a collection and his book allows a reader to revisit childhood friends.

Toy Soldier and Model Figure Magazine