Photo Courtesy of Spencer Morgan

When ever I’m interviewed by the media one standard question they never fail to ask is: “Why do adult men collect toy soldiers?”, and my standard reply is: “Because they (toy soldiers) act like a bridge
to our past; a bridge to our childhood.”

I guess that’s a pretty accurate answer because so many men share a similar response. Oh sure, there’s the history aspect of toy soldiers. As they reflect all era’s of history in miniature, but
for most of us it’s the warm childhood memories of playing with toy soldiers that keep us collecting.

Collecting toy soldiers; picking them up; holding them in our hands; arranging them in table top dioramas, and even sharing toy soldier conversations with our fellow collectors help us to escape from our day-to-day concrete and electronic world and return us to our childhood.

And so goes a recent article in The New York Observer about Bill Jackey who rediscovered toy soldiers about 12 years ago and has since collected an army of 10,000.
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A very limited number of autographed copies of Norman Joplin’s new book, Britains New Toy Soldiers 1973-Present will be available at the 26th Annual East Coast Toy Soldier Show, Sunday, November 2nd.

BRITAINS NEW TOY SOLDIERS 1973-PRESENT, by Norman Joplin is the first comprehensive book to document the history and products of Britains New Toy Soldiers,it covers the various lines that have been produced in the last thirty five years by the succession of companies who have owned the Britains name.

The foreword has been written by Clare Camplin (nee Britain) Dennis Britains Daughter

Chapters cover everything produced by the firm since the first New Metal Modal Guardsman was issued in 1973 and traces the history of the company and the many categories that have been produced since.
From American Civil War to the Redcoats, From Zulu War to Petticoats, From World War One,The Delhi Durbar and Knights to William Britain Collectors Club issues and Hamleys/Harrods specials,Britains Centenary and Millennium issues.

The book also features non-military sections on Home Farm and Circus. Special issues by the Britains Company and figures exclusive to Harrods’ and Hamleys’ department stores all are included. Each toy is identified in the text and captions, with a comprehensive index of all gloss-painted figures produced during the period covered. The book contains a valuation guide to each set or individual item. This reference book is the definitive work on the new Britains line.
Product Details this book is a must for the Britains collector

The book is a full color,hard bound coffee table style reference book with 1072 photos,272 pages and shows over 3200 Toy Soldiers and Figures

Norman Joplin will be at the 26th Annual East Coast Toy Soldier Show & Sale, on Sunday, November 2nd, and will have a limited number of autographed copies of his new book available at the Britains/ First Gear tables.

Albany, NY. Toy Soldiers roll into Albany, NY this coming Sunday, October 12, for the 18th Albany Toy Soldier Show & Sale. Show will be held at the Best Western Inn, 200 Wolf Road, Colonie, NY, 12205. Show hours are 9 am-3 pm. For more information, phone Ron Chicchinelli at 518-235-4729.