PITTSBURGH - Bidders called up the heavy artillery during Old Toy Soldier Auctions’ May 16 absentee and Internet auction, spending a total of $169,900 and claiming 99.9 percent of the lots offered. All prices quoted include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.

“Like a lot of auction houses, we were nervous in the current economic climate, but I thought the result was terrific,” said OTSA’s owner, Ray Haradin. “There were 677 lots, and I had expected it to gross $150,000 on the high end. It went almost $20,000 higher.” Click here to read more about this important auction …

more about this
important auction

posted by Bill

Old Toy Soldier Auctions USA will kick off their 3rd U.S. auction on Saturday, May 16th, 2009, with the auction of The John Graham & Geoffrey Duin Collections.

The auction consists of hundreds of lots of toy soldiers from over 50 different manufacturers. With plenty of hiqh quality Pre and Post War Britains sharing the spotlight.

This auction’s listing of quality toy soldiers literally runs the gamut from A to Z, with toy soldiers from makers such as Amherst through Zang. There’s sure to be something for everyone as even American Dimestores and Courtenay figures are represented in this auction.

Visit their newly designed website for past auction results and plenty of high-res photos of every lot going under the gavel on May 16th. A 86 page full color catalog can be viewed by visiting www.oldtoysoldierauctions.com. The catalogs are masterpieces and well worth keeping for reference.

posted by Bill

I’m always looking for new useful tips and suggestions I can use when visiting toy soldier shows. Suggestions I can use to make my visits more enjoyable. But most of the information I read about toy soldier shows, that is posted on forums, chat rooms and blogs, are previews and reviews about the merchandise and goodies found at shows. Not shopping or buying tips. So it was refreshing to visit Bunker Talk’s recent post on Hobby Shows and read the bunkermeister’s good common sense insights and tips on getting the most out of a hobby show.

posted by Bill

Back in 1987, when Andy Neilson, founder of King and Country, was asked by Bill The Bandman, “How did all this get started?” Andy responded, “My brother, Gordon, sent me a boxed set of six all metal hand- painted Royal Marine Toy Soldiers for my birthday in 1977.” He smiled at the memory, “I Was hooked. I immediately wrote a supplier in the U.K. with no luck. That was when Laura (McAllister) suggested I try making them myself.”

“I made sketches and sent them out for sculpting and casting contacts. In February 1984, King and Country came into being along with the first tiny figure appearance.”

From this humble beginning, some 25 years ago, King & Country has developed into one of the world’s premier toy soldier manufacturers of
our time.  And now the King and Country brand marches into South Korea with History Kingdom’s CEO, Ahn Jae Man, having the exclusive rights for King and Country. Read the entire article from The Seoul Times…

posted by Bill

March welcomes the changing of the seasons from winter to spring and March 2009 also welcomes four Toy Soldier Show events in the U.S. After a long cold winter there is no better remedy for a toy soldier collector suffering from ‘toy soldier cabin fever’ than visiting a toy soldier show.

John Stengle, The Marxman, presents the first toy soldier show in March, on: Saturday, March 7, 2009
The New Yorker Toy Soldier Show
Hotel Adria Conference Center
221-17 Northern Blvd., Bayside, Queens, NY
Contact: John Stengle, The Marxman 718-418-9439,
email: themarxman@nyc.rr.com

On Sunday, March 8th, toy soldier collectors on the West Coast will be treated to the Annual West Coast Toy Soldier Show with ‘Room Trading’: Dealers selling and displaying from their hotel rooms on Saturday March 7th.

March 8, 2009
The West Coast Toy Soldier Show
Show Hours 9am – 3pm / $5 Admission/under 12 free
Irvine Marriott- Orange County Airport
18000 Von Karman Ave. Irvine, CA 92612
Contact: 760-758-5481

It’s a toy soldier weekend for toy soldier collectors in the NYC Metro area, with a toy soldier show on Saturday in Queens, NY and another toy soldier show on Sunday in nearby Secaucus, NJ:

March 8, 2009
13th Annual New Jersey Toy Soldier Show & Miniature Sale
Crown Plaza, Secaucus, NJ
Contact: Ed Gries 201-342-6475, cell: 201 257-2687

The Indianapolis Toy Soldier Show closes the month when Barry Carter and crew sponsor the Annual Indy Toy Soldier Show. It’s another show
with ‘Room Trading’, prior to the show itself, with dealers selling and displaying from their hotel rooms on Saturday, March 28th.

March 29, 2009
20th Annual Indy Toy Soldier Show 10 am - 3 pm
Sheraton Inn North 8787 Keystone Crossing (I-465 Exit 33)
Indianapolis, IN
Contact: Barry Carter 765-345-5665,
email: indytoysoldier@hotmail.com

posted by Bill