In 1973 Britains introduced their New Toy Soldier line of gloss-painted metal figures. It has been highly successful and continues to the present day. This new book focuses on the traditional 54mm figures, illustrating nearly the complete range in nearly 1,100 photographs. Over 3,200 figures are shown with a strong emphasis on military items: British Ceremonial troops, American Civil War, Indian Army and Delhi Durbar, World War I, Knights, Zulu War, Rorkes Drift, Limited Editions, W Britains Collectors Club Membership products, 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.

This comprehensive and thoroughly enjoyable reference features hundreds of tin toy cars from toy makers around the world. Included are toys from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, and the United States. The toys represent cars of the 1900s to the 1970s, with a major emphasis on toys produced in Japan during the 1950s and 1960s -- the peak period for toy cars made from tin. Showcased are commercial delivery and public service vehicles organized alphabetically by make, as well as hot rods, jalopies, and race cars. A companion volume features passenger, sports, and concept vehicles. With over 1,140 photographs of toys and detailed information not previously published, this is the most complete work in the field. Each listing contains the make, model, year, body style, size, graphic markings, operation description, producing company, country of origin, trademarks, a scarcity rating, and current values based on condition. Many photos feature the original boxes. A list of the toy companies and their respective marks rounds out this valuable collector's guide. Return to your childhood with this delightful look at colorful toy cars produced in tin!

Here, at last, is a long-awaited volume for collectors of miniature vehicles. After a span of several years, noted authority Edward Force turns his eye toward the vehicles produced in northern Europe from the early to mid-20th century. From Scandinavia the toys include the classic Tekno brand, as well as Vilmer and several smaller brands such as Bapro and Lemeco. Also included are a series of plastic models once offered by Lego. From Belgium, there are vehicles from the Gusquy-Septoy firm and the short-lived Sablon brand. Holland is represented by Lion Toys and the Best Box-Efsi-Oto-Holland line. Finally, the book contains the German Siku line. In all, hundreds of examples are shown in full color, plus the encyclopedic gathering of information that collectors have come to expect from Dr. Force. Values are provided for each model shown. This new volume will satisfy the pent-up demand for a new volume on miniature vehicles and will be a welcome addition to the collector's library.

When Midway Manufacturing introduced the Pac-Man arcade game in late 1980, there were many who doubted that a maze-based game could compete against the "space invader" games that were so prevalent. They were wrong! Pac-Man experienced a meteoric rise in popularity. It took the nation and the world by storm, and following in its wake was a stream of Pac-Man products that were gobbled up by its fans. It has been estimated that there were over five hundred different Pac-Man related items manufactured over the past twenty years. This new book catalogs many of them with complete descriptions and 415 color photographs. It covers everything from the games themselves to plush Pac-Man figures, from magazines and puzzles to videos and animation cels. Each caption includes a guide to today's market value. A must-have book for Pac-Man maniacs!

Toys purchased with box tops and pocket change in days-gone-by abound in this fascinating and sweeping survey. Over 850 color photographs display the wide range of items, including airplanes, badges, booklets, decoders, pins, rings, and whistles, offered to children throughout much of the twentieth century by bread and cereal companies and over the radio. Favorite heroes of the airwaves all had premium toys for their devoted fans to collect. Found here are the premiums of radio's legendary heroes, including Buck Rogers; Captains Marvel, Midnight and Video; Dick Tracy; Green Hornet; the Lone Ranger; Red Ryder; Sky King; Superman; Tom Corbett; and Tarzan -- among others! Also included in this wide ranging book are methods for dating premiums using patent numbers and area codes, brief reviews of many of the shows upon which so many premiums were based, and values for the toys displayed. Values are conveniently located in the captions. This book is must reading for toy collectors and dealers and for anyone who ever saved their box tops and then waited anxiously by the mailbox for some special item to arrive.

Welcome to the world of Transformers! These immensely popular "robots in disguise" originated in Japan, and the United States has only been one destination on their worldwide tour. Learn about fascinating variations between the Transformers of Japan, America, and Europe through hundreds of gorgeous color photographs of Transformers from all over the world. This in-depth guide delves into such Japanese toy lines as the Headmasters, Masterforce, Zone, and the Return of Convoy. There is discussion of many of the European figures including the Turbomasters, Predators, and the Obliterators. Also appearing are early Pre-Transformers like the Diaclones and Kronoforms. Fun to read, and with current market values in each caption, this is the book collectors have been waiting for. Transform and roll out!

Patti Playpal*t life-sized companion dolls were an enormous hit in the 1960s. These gorgeous dolls could actually wear the clothing of the children they belonged to! Patti Playpal dolls are in demand on today's collectors' market, although surprisingly little information has been available about them. This wonderful reference not only chronicles the Playpal Family with their original outfits and play sets, but also all of the other life-sized dolls of the era that have been a source of confusion to collectors and dealers alike. Finer points like original hair colors, hairstyles, and outfit variations are finally documented. Over 250 color photos, original catalog and television advertisements, and valuable information about the dolls and the prices they command today make this long-awaited resource an excellent addition to the library of all doll or toy enthusiasts.

Collecting antique paper lithographed toys is an exciting and visually rewarding hobby. These vividly printed toys remind us of a time gone by when games, blocks, toys, dollhouses, puzzles, and books were designed by a method called chromolithography--a process that is as close to artistic perfection as a nineteenth-century painting. Filled with over 500 full color photographs, this book provides a fascinating and informative glimpse into the late Victorian era of toy making. Organized by type of item, each chapter includes useful facts about the history, manufacturing, and typical illustrations found on the toys and books, while values, measurements, dates, and game pieces are all provided in the captions. In addition, readers will find a valuable listing of the most prominent American and European manufacturers of the time, including McLoughlin Bros., Milton Bradley, Bliss, W. & S. B. Ives, Raphael Tuck, E.P. Dutton, and more. Never before has one book provided such a colorful guide to paper litho toy collecting, so take a step back in time to when toy making was a rare art!

The image of the horse is so popular and appears in so many forms that there are literally millions of fascinating equine collectibles to seek out, accumulate, and admire. Collecting them is a passion for thousands of people; this wonderful new second edition was put together with them in mind. With over 500 examples, it covers major toy manufacturers like Breyer, Hartland Plastics, Hagen-Renaker, Marx, Hasbro-My Little Pony, and North Lights, plus a wide range of horse collectibles in a variety of materials and forms, gathered from around the world. All of these have newly revised pricing information to reflect today's market. Horse collecting is a hobby suited to any budget. It's not hard to find horses to buy, and many of them are priced very reasonably, even in antique shops. With the wonderful color photographs and its current price guide, this book will be a useful delight for horse enthusiasts.

Trolls have been with us for years, bringing impish smiles, good luck, and wild hairdos into our hearts and homes. Their diverse shapes and sizes make troll toys popular to collect. Trolls can pop up just about anywhere, but they're not always easy to find if they're feeling playful! Current prices and almost 600 color photographs in this book give the collector a real edge on any troll-hunting adventure. It covers a wide assortment of trolls, including those made by several companies, and some surprising examples from overseas. So make a wish and get started--these trolls will certainly keep you busy!

In 1996, Star Trek and the crew of the Enterprise celebrate their 30th anniversary. Today, the Star Trek world is a multi-million dollar adventure with three spin-off television series and seven movies to date with thousands of loyal fans. The mountain of collectibles Star Trek has left in its wake are presented here in newly revised text, lists of items and almost 600 color photographs with captions chronicling the field, and price listings to include 500 new items not appearing in the last edition! Brief synopses of the series and films put the collectibles in perspective.

Welcome to the exciting world of fast food collectibles! This comprehensive book presents a thorough and entertaining guide to the multitude of kid's meal premiums distributed by fourteen quick service restaurants (other than McDonald's) from January 1990 through late 1998. This colorful assortment of restaurants includes Jack in the Box, KFC, K-Mart, Long John Silver's, Pizza Hut, Roy Rogers, Sonic, Subway, Taco Bell, Target, Wal-Mart, Wendy's, Whataburger, and White Castle. Starting with the beginning of the fast food toy explosion, this definitive volume identifies, describes, and lists prices for over 570 kid's meal promotions from the 1990s. More than 550 full color photos document this awesome array of premiums dating from this decade alone. Many of the toys depict colorful characters from such popular companies as Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Hanna Barbera, Inc., Viacom International, Hasbro, Inc., Twentieth Century Fox Universal City Studios, Inc., DC Comics, Mars, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, and more. The informative text includes a brief history of each corporation and their cast of characters, plus check-off boxes to help you organize your expansive collection. Additionally, the authors have provided a numbering system that identifies every item in the book.

Presented here in lively text and over 650 color photographs are the toys that have been played with and collected by ardent fans of George Lucas' Star Wars trilogy for twenty years. The action figures, accessories, playsets, and spacecraft of the Rebellion and the Empire are displayed in a colorful and easily referenced format. The gaming equipment, model kits, playthings, promotional items, puzzles, and weapons produced from 1977 through 1997 are examined as well. Not stopping there, this sweeping survey includes an overview of the most popular items from the rest of the ever-expanding Star Wars collectibles universe. Newly revised prices are included in the captions; listings for toys both loose and mint-in-the-package are provided whenever appropriate. Rounding out this practical guide are a short history of science fiction films, an examination of action figures, and a bibliography.

Images of bears are found throughout the world on many objects in everyday life, from advertising and postage stamps to clothing and tablewares. The intense popularity of stuffed toy Teddy Bears today has ignited the search for images of bears on antiques, in old books, and upon modern items--and many are displayed and identified here. The chapters present old and new images of bears made as both useful and decorative items from diverse materials such as metals, wood, glass, ceramics, paper, and textiles. Over 475 color photographs show bears on, as, and about everyday objects, and each one is dated and identified with historical facts and a current value range. Current bear enthusiasts will cherish this book and skeptical readers will be converted. Beware of increasing bear sightings!

PEZ made it OK to play with your food, and now those imaginative, colorful candy dispensers are sought after by collectors worldwide. After PEZ candy and dispensers were brought to the United States in 1952, more than 250 different types of character heads were made. Licensed cartoon characters, movie and TV personalities, and original designs are divided chronologically into five series, usually indicated by patent dates on the dispensers. In this newly revised and expanded edition, most of the variations of PEZ dispensers are shown in 281 color photographs, as well as the premiums and store displays that helped sell them. The captions identify each item and give the current estimated values.

Tin toys had been made in Japan before the Second World War, but they reached new heights of realism in the 1950s. The postwar American occupation of Japan gave Japanese toymakers ready access to the lucrative American toy market, and as a result most of the tin toy cars made in this period were based on American vehicles like Cadillacs, Chevrolets, Buicks, Oldsmobiles and Packards. Like the real things, these tin toys were big. A small one would be around eight inches long, with some of the largest stretching to eighteen inches. As such, tinplate was the ideal medium to capture the look of American styling of the 1950s, a period when size mattered, and car manufacturers tried to outdo each other with the extravagance of their designs, the size of their tailfins and the amount of chrome. During this era of consumerism, Japanese toy production was at its peak, with exotically-named manufacturers like Marusan, Bandai, Yonezawa and Alps turning out vast quantities of tin toys. It proved to be a short-lived phase in the history of toy production. By the early 1960s, tin toys were falling out of fashion for various reasons: their sharp edges gave rise to safety concerns; die-cast models were becoming increasingly realistic and sophisticated, with many action features that appealed to children; the development of plastics in the toy industry made tin toys look increasingly old-fashioned. Half a century later, there are very few surviving examples of these magnificent playthings. Bruce Sterling of New York has devoted years to seeking out the very best examples of Japanese tinplate cars and has built up what is probably the world's finest collection of these toys, every one of them in pristine condition, complete with their original boxes which are works of art in themselves.This book showcases 150 examples of the very rarest Japanese tin toy cars, many of them never having been pictured in books or magazines until now. Almost every major American motor manufacturer is represented here, together with a selection of commercial vehicles and a significant number of European cars, too. All are illustrated in full colour and described in detail, and fascinating insights are provided into both the real vehicles and the companies that modelled them, together with a guide to rarity and current values. This is a book that will be treasured, not only by specialist collectors, but by all who are passionate about vintage toys and classic vehicles.

An extensive and in-depth study of the non-military and civilian toy figures made by Britains, covering the early mechanical toys of the 1880s through to the final hollow cast toys from 1966. During the inter-war period, the British toy-buying public rejected war-like/military toys, providing Britains with the opportunity to introduce their Farm, Zoo and Circus lines - all of which in some way reflected the social history of the time in the United Kingdom. Prolific in their output, Britains were quick to realize the potential of the huge U.S. market and exported vast numbers of toys via a number of importers in the eastern and mid-western states. Included are 970 color photographs of toys including Miniature Garden, Civilian Vehicles, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Salvation Army and Cowboys and Indians, etc., along with British Royalty figures. Together with Football/Soccer and Famous Horse Racing Colors and their Jockeys, this book provides colorful insight into the hobby of collecting these hollow cast lead toys. A guide to current values is included in the captions.

In 1982, ownership of Matchbox die cast toys, the most popular metal vehicles in the world, passed from Lesney to Universal. The toys produced under Universal's ownership are documented in this thorough text. It includes the vehicles and a wide variety of other toys manufactured under the Matchbox logo, including infants' educational toys, dolls, and puzzles. This is the third in a series (preceded by Lesney's Matchbox Toys: The Superfast years, 1969-1982 and Lesney's Matchbox toys, Regular Wheel Years, 1947-1969, published by Schiffer Publishing) of marvelous Matchbox books by Charlie Mack. In this revised edition, he has gathered fine color photographs of all the vehicles, their variations, and the other toys produced by Universal. Additional materials include lists of places of interest for the collector to visit and mail order sources.