FIN1003
The Collector's Handbook - The Elastolin Plastic Figures 1950-1983. Volume 3
by Peter Müller

The third volume of the Collector's Handbook focuses on the Elastolin siege equipment, castles and more.

Peter Müller is the worlds formost authority on Elastolin plastic figures and related products. His collection is the largest in the world and contains many items directly from the Hausser archives.

From the Author:
The new reference guide for Elastolin plastic figure lovers is here. Containing more than 500 pages, this handbook presents the Elastolin Plastic Figures in an expert, detailed and historically accurate manner. The project to compile all the information on the individual series of Hausser Company plastic figures and to then present them in a comprehensive guide complete with a price list was two years in the making.

This handbook was originally planned to contain approximately 300 pages but is has turned into over 1000 pages. We then made a decision to print this very comprehensive book in two handy volumes. The first volume covers all the references to the 7 cm and 4 cm Medieval figures, Romans, Vikings, Huns and Knights. The second volume of the Collector's Handbook, focuses on the Karl May, Wild West, Farmhouse and American Civil War themes and specialty figures. Background on the designers of the Hausser Company is also included. A third volume will be published in 2006 and will contain Elastolin siege equipment, castles and more.

The uncommonness of a figure is dictated by the different colors used for the different editions. These figures are priced accordingly. For instance, the coat of the Norman figure painted in the basic green makes this figure very common. The same figure painted in an emerald green coat is very rare. This contrast can be identified with the assistance of our color chart. Many different color combinations and variations were created by the Hausser Company because so many different editions of the figures were issued. It is this detail that makes collecting Elastolin Plastic Figures so interesting. That's why it is important to list all the color variations and painting techniques in the table and to sort them by time of production and painting.

Identifying Figures with the Separate Color Table Created for this Book

The different parts of the figures and clothing are described in an abbreviated format in the table of this book. Colors are described, also in an abbreviated format, in a color table created specifically for this Collector's book. All important colors and color variations used by the Hausser Company for the painting of their figures are found here. It was almost impossible to reproduce the many different colors of the figures in print and it would have taken too much space if we could have done it so we made an exact color table.

The color table that we originally planned contained just the important colors but we found this was not enough to give collectors a clear picture of all variations. We had to design a new color chart so that the colors used by the Hausser Company, with their many mixes and combinations, could accurately reflect the correct colors to enable the collector to precisely identify and evaluate figures. The color chart, with its 240 colors, is well worth the extra money. The printing of the chart requires a special process so that the exact colors are reproduced. This will give the collectors a sophisticated tool they need to manage their collections.

The Color Table will be sold separately and will be available November 2005

We hope you enjoy this book and find it extremely useful! Good Collecting!