Buying, Collecting And Identifying Old Toy Soldiers: Know What You Are Getting!
by Rick Berry

(This is an ongoing project and will be added to on a regular basis)

What follows is a general guide to buying toy soldiers. The number of misidentified and mislabeled figures now being sold over the internet is alarming. I hope this guide (and it is just a guide) will help collectors avoid the hassle and pain of getting ripped off. As a collector, buying toy soldiers for my own collection I have learned a lot (sometimes at great expense ) about what to look for and what to avoid in purchasing toy soldiers. Hopefully my experiences and the tips I have learned from other collectors and dealers will help fellow collectors avoid some of the costly mistakes that can be made. Remember this is only a guide to show you what many advanced collectors look for when purchasing items for their collection. If you are happy with your purchase then it is worth what you paid for it.. at least to you! Anyone who would like to contribute any tips or suggestions to these articlse is encouraged to please do so!

My main passion in collecting is plastic figures by European manufactures such as Britains, Elastolin, Clariet, Starlux and so on. I've been collecting seriously since 1988 after finding my old Marx figures at my mothers house. Over the years I've purchased many items that in the end were not worth anywhere near what I paid for them, some because I just liked them and still do and others because I didn't know any better....

Buying Britains Swoppets

Buying Elastolin 7cm Plastic Toy Soldiers

Buying Elastolin 4cm and 7cm Plastic Siege Equipment

Buying Elastolin 4cm Plastic Toy Soldiers

Buying Starlux Plastic Toy Soldiers

Buying Composition Toy Soldiers

UPCOMING:

Buying Mignot Lead Toy Soldiers

Buying Briatins Lead Toy Soldiers

Buying Italian Composition Toy Soldiers

Buying Italian Plastic Toy Soldiers

Buying Marx 1/32nd Toy Soldiers

Buying Marx 1/72nd Toy Soldiers

Buying Marx Warriors of the World 60mm Toy Soldiers

Buying Marx 6" Toy Soldiers

Disclaimer: I do not claim to be an expert but I have learned many things over the years, sometimes the hard way and at great expense. This is a labor of love for me. Collecting Old Toy Soldiers is my passion and my HOBBY. I have been collecting seriously for over 15 years and in the business for close to five years and over that time I have become good friends with many respected and experienced people who have indirectly contributed to this article through the knowledge they have passed along in a unselfish way. I always welcome and encourage comments both negative and positive. I appreciate any additions and corrections from fellow collectors to anything presented here.