Britains and Other Interesting Toy Soldiers

Themes and Highlights from Sixty Years of Collecting

John Franklin

• Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
• eBook ISBN:
  9781399075404
• Year: 2023

Explores the lifelong passion of collecting traditional toy soldiers, offering insights, anecdotes, with over four hundred photographs that showcase a sixty-year journey of dedication and expertise in the hobby. John Franklin has been collecting traditional toy soldiers for over sixty years, mostly Britains but, as the title suggests, including other interesting additions. In this book he shares some of the in-depth knowledge gained through experience and countless hours of careful research, but most of all the passion and enthusiasm for his hobby. He explains how he was inspired to collect soldiers, like so many, in early boyhood and how a hobby grew into an obsession. The various chapters then examine themes he followed in his collecting, such as Britains Special Painting Orders and Indian Army Pipe Bands for example, or address questions regarding the manufacture or identity of specific sets that he has researched or, in some cases, is still seeking the answer to. It is packed with anecdotes, useful technical information and helpful advice for the collector but it is above all a proud tour of inspection of a sixty-year labour of love. Over four hundred photographs, show much of the author's magnificent collection in a parade of miniature pomp and splendour.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• CONTENTS
• FOREWORD
• INTRODUCTION
• CHAPTER 1 BRITAINS SPECIAL PAINTINGS
• CHAPTER 2 INDIAN ARMY PIPE BANDS
• CHAPTER 3 BRITAINS RFA GUN TEAM AT THE HALT SET 317
• CHAPTER 4 CAVALRY BANDS
• CHAPTER 5 TOY SOLDIER COLOURS
• CHAPTER 6 BRITAINS PARADE BLACK WATCH
• CHAPTER 7 SOME BRITAINS LARGE BOXES
• CHAPTER 8 INDIAN ARMY COLOUR PARTIES
• CHAPTER 9 AUSTRALIANS OR COLONIALS AT THE PRESENT
• CHAPTER 10 BANDS OF SCOTTISH REGIMENTS
• CHA PTER 11 BRITAINS WHISSTOCK BOXES
• CHAPTER 12 THE POLISH ENIGMA
• CHAPTER 13 THE INDIAN ARMY
• CHAPTER 14 MR H.L. POTTIER SMITH AND HIS COLLECTION
• CHA PTER 15 FINALE BRITAINS
• POSTSCRIPT
• Backcover Page