Forward-march! May 16 Old Toy Soldier Auction includes small wonders for all collector levels Ray Haradin is busily preparing for his third sale under the Old Toy Soldier Auctions banner: a 677-lot May 16, 2009 event featuring the John Graham and Geoffrey Duin Collections.
PITTSBURGH – Antique toy dealer, publisher and auction house owner Ray Haradin is busily preparing for his third sale under the Old Toy Soldier Auctions banner: a 677-lot May 16, 2009 event featuring the John Graham and Geoffrey Duin Collections, with additional properties from other consignors. Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com.
“Our company name describes exactly what we sell – old toy soldiers and figures,” said Haradin. “It may be just one corner of the toy hobby, but there’s a lot to know about the subject because there have been so many manufacturers and lines produced in the last 150 years.” Between himself and his OTSA associate Norman Joplin – the venerable antique toy soldier expert and author who supervises the cataloging of all consigned articles – the territory is amply covered from start to finish.
In assembling his third sale, Haradin said the goal was “diversity – there are probably 50 different manufacturers represented, with a production period that ranges from 1895 to about 1980.” A heavy emphasis was placed on including both pre- and post-World War II examples made by Britains, the company most collectors regard as the premier brand.
Among the best of the boxed Britains sets to be auctioned is a prized 25-piece Bahamas Police Band, with its drum major, bandmaster, drummers, horn and woodwind players. The rare first-version set was probably issued for only one year, 1959, and is expected to make $5,000-$5,500 at auction.
Although unboxed, an early 1960s-vintage 25-piece U.S. Military Band also known as the Yellow Jackets Band (note: solid replacement sousaphone player, estimate $1,600-$1,900) is another sale highlight. “This particular set was based on a yellow band uniform designed by Richard Nixon,” said Haradin. “The notion arose that only a coward would wear yellow, so the band never wore the uniforms again. As a result, the production run for the Britains set ended up being very brief.” In all, 20 to 30 military and civilian bands will be offered in OTSA’s upcoming auction.
Because of the sheer number of figures produced by Britains, most collectors narrow their sights to pursue either military or civilian figures. W. Britain manufactured scale-model versions of virtually all regiments of the British Army, as well as the armies of any country where British troops fought or were sent to occupy. A browse through the online catalog is like an panoramic unfolding of British history, from the lance-wielding Knights of Agincourt to the West India Regiment and Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. If a set was popular, it would have a long run, as was the case with Britains’ #48 Egyptian Camel Corps set with native soldiers on camel mounts, which was produced from 1919-1941. An early example of this particular set, in excellent condition with figures still tied into their proper positions within the original black-labeled box, is entered in Haradin’s May 16 auction with a $550-$600 estimate.
Britains civilian figures and accessories hold a universal appeal. Both male and female collectors are drawn
