Collecting Toy Soldiers in the 21st Century

Product Description 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. Review “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 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.