George Kearton's - The Collectors Guide to Plastic Toy Soldiers 1947-1987 (Revised Edition)

The Collector’s Guide to Plastic Toy Soldiers, 1947-87 was the first-ever book to illustrate the tremendous range and scope of plastic toy soldiers from across the World.

Published in 1987 in a limited edition of just 1,000 signed copies it sold out very quickly and, since then, has become a “Holy Grail” publication for collectors. Twenty five years later it remains the only single-volume study of plastic toy soldiers from “The Golden Age” .

This newly-scanned reprint includes not only the whole of the original book but also new material; an article by George Kearton written for “Plastic Warrior” magazine several years ago, a new introduction by him and an extract from “Old Toy Soldier Newsletter” with details of his Toy Soldier Museum in Lancashire which was open from 1983 to 1986.

Also included is an early example of George Kearton’s mail order listings as well as reminiscences of collecting plastic toy soldiers before the Internet and toy soldier shows specially written by Peter Cole, co-founder of English toy soldier makers “Replicants”.

George Kearton bought his first plastic toy soldier in September of 1955 to compensate for his first day at school!

He has been a serious collector since 1972 and started dealing in toy soldiers in 1975 after serious injuries in a hit-and-run accident in 1974.

Now retired, after a lifetime career as a Fundraising Manager in the voluntary sector, he lives in Cornwall with his wife Norma and their family of gorgeous cats.