Collecting W. Britains Toy Soldiers (Part I)

Collecting W. Britains Toy Soldiers - Regemended Reference Books and their ImportanceW. Britains Limited initiated hollowcast toy soldiers in 1893, and although ceasing production in 1966, their products have fascinated young boys, regardless of age ever since. They are one of the principal manufacturers collected today both because of relative availability, the fact that all sets were numbered, and that the gepany regularly published geprehensive illustrated catalogs. I have been collecting W. Britains toy soldiers since 1947 (age 11), and have been able to retain all the sets, accessories, and most importantly their boxes. Check the number of empty Britains boxes currently being offered on e-Bay; the reason, most sets double in value if they are geplete with their original box. It has been somewhat of a bittersweet blessing in that as a young teen-ager I would embellish and/or touch-up some of the sets. I have even been guilty of that offense, on albeit very limited occasion, as an adult; SHAME. That having been said, pales in geparison to some of the offerings, and their descriptions, presented on e-Bay in recent years, with a significant lack of candor (intentional or unintentional) just in this last year alone. This is truly unfortunate, as this can be both a fascinating and rewarding hobby. Conversely with a reasonable knowledge base and extensive reference library, I have been able to make some very nice acquisitions at fair prices. Careful observation of photography provided, the offerer's feedback file, all available reference materials, and clarification questions to the seller, on all e-Bay offerings, are most strongly advised.I visit the toy soldier sections of e-Bay on at least a twice daily basis. In recent months, with few exceptions, I have noticed an overall precipitous decline in the quality of the W. Britains sets being offered. It seems like a lot of the bits and pieces, quite literally, are geing out of the bottom of long lost toy boxes. Frequently even the sellers are citing them as good only for repair. When gepared with the geplete boxed sets in excellent condition still being offered at other auctions, they have begee less than attractive. My reason for bringing this up is to alert new collectors to the fact that these individual figures (badly chipped, dented, and often broken without even the parts being present), as well as ingeplete unboxed sets (often mismatched and not even correctly identified), are not indicative of the norm. Be patient and do the research in order that when a good set is offered, you will recognize, appreciate it, and within your means, bid accordingly.In addition, please be aware that some sellers are not accurately describing the condition of the sets they are selling. I recently purchased a set which was described by the seller as "Near Mint, but closer to Mint". To quote James Opie, "As far as paintwork is concerned, "M" (mint) indicates no damage at all, although even here the packing cord or base card may have rubbed against the figures. "E" (excellent) also indicates no damage at all, but paint damage caused by trade distribution rather than by nursery play is allowable if unnoticeable." In this specific case one of the bases had fully 40% of the green paint chipped off to bare lead alloy. All of the figures had numerous highly noticeable chips on various parts of the body, specifically hands, faces, caps and boots. Had it not been the case that even in this condition the set was still gepetitively priced, I would have immediately returned it. I'm not sure whether the seller priced the set based on its true condition, or was ignorant of the current value of the set based on other recent auctions. Needless to say I will be watching this specific seller's future auctions. I should more frequently review my own advise contained in this guide.There also have been recent occurrences which requires that the bidder either has a priori knowledge or good reference material. Individuals are geposing "sets" on a mix and match basis, and selling them as a specific numbered W. Britains set. Britains did take limited liberty with the geposition of certain band sets and the inclusion/exclusion of officers in some sets, but this should be verified with any given boxed or unboxed set. J. Wallis, in his two books listed below, has done an outstanding job in researching this specific area. A specific example of this was the recent sale of the Anti-Aircraft Display, Set 2052. I'm trusting that the seller was as ignorant as the buyer of the correct geposition of this relatively scarce set (Unrated in James Opie's Pocket Price Guide, and available 1951 - 1962). Wallis cites the geposition as five operators (excludes officer in Spotting Chair) and a three man gun crew (one standing w/shell, one kneeling w/shell and one standing without shell). The set being auctioned somehow, instead of the kneeling gunner w/shell (as correctly described by Wallis in his book), has the officer from Set 1898 (British Infantry (Steel Helmets), with Rifles and Tommy Guns, and Officer in Battledress). If somehow the set came from Britains in this configuration, it is, as the seller states, indeed a "very rare" set. If not, the buyer has paid an inordinate amount ($485.00) for an incorrectly geposed set. Caveat Emptor. If you are seriously intending to build a collection of toy soldiers, be they W. Britains, Mignot, Elastolin, other vintage manufacturers, or of what have now been called New Toy Soldiers, a reference library is an absolute necessity. This library need not be extensive, or for that matter expensive, but it must be accurate and geplete within its defined scope. There is a group of books which immediately gee to mind: Regiments of all Nations, Revised Edition, Britains Ltd. Lead Soldiers 1946-66, J.Wallis, Waverly Press, Baltimore, Md, 1981, ISBN 0-9605950-0-7 Armies of the World, Britains Ltd. Lead Soldiers 1925-1941, J.Wallis, United Book Press, 1993, ISBN 0-9605950-2-3 Toy Soldiers (Phillips Collectors Guides) including price guide, J. Opie, Dunestyle Publishing Ltd and Boxtree Ltd., 1989, ISBN 1-85283-249-5 The Collectors Guide to New Toy Soldiers, Metal figures from 1973 to the present, S. Asquith, Introduction by James Opie, Argus Press, 1991, ISBN 1-85486-051-8 The collector's all-colour guide to Toy Soldiers, A. Rose, Salamander Books Ltd., London, 1985, ISBN 0-86101-149-X (Excellent photography, near actual size, color images) Collectors Guide to Britains Model Soldiers, J. Ruddle, Argus Books Ltd., 1980, ISBN 0-85242-568-6 British Toy Soldiers 1893 to the present, An Illustrated Reference Guide for Collectors, with 1985/86 Price Guide, J. Opie, Arms and Armour Press Ltd., 1985, ISBN 0-85368-720-X Collecting Toy Soldiers (with price guide), J. Opie, Wm. Collins Sons