Collecting Toy Soldiers in the 21st Century - Hardcover

"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

James Opie's highly popular Collecting Toy Soldiers (1987) was an inspirational book for anyone involved in the hobby. Nearly a quarter of a century on, this is a completely new companion updating the experience for the twenty-first century collector. James now gives the reader the benefit of over thirty years' participation as one of the world's leading authorities on toy soldiers, figures and models, and a lifetime as a collector himself.Collecting Toy Soldiers in the 21st Century contains comprehensive advice on all aspects of collecting, fully illustrated with new pictures. The main menu is an exposition of the thousands of different possibilities for pursuing individual fulfilment. Guidance for every budget includes price trends and pitfalls to avoid when buying or selling at auction, shows, on-line or privately. The informative and often-amusing anecdotes are provided from James' own involvement, andillustrate just how satisfying it can be to explore this blend of history, tradition, nostalgia and play, whether on the most grandiose scale or with the most limited of funds.