Identification and Valuation

I’ve had a couple of emails recently, from Trustees, regarding the Estates of some of my late customers who, regrettably, have gone to meet the Great Soldier Maker in the Sky.

“How do they value the collection”, is often the first question, ……………………………….

..and “where do we dispose of it”, is the second one.

So, in answer to question one...

Soldiers’ Soldiers packaging information:

The liner label shows various Britains civilian figures standing outside a shop with "Slaters" written on the window. This caused people to ask for "slaters" soldiers, and was therefore hurridly discontinued.
Individual liners for each foot position attention, at ease and marching.

A few boxes of figures at “port-arms” were made, but the bayonets were too fragile and that style of arm was soon discontinued.

Some labels are still available, € 2.50 each, or all 5 for € 10.00.

Some labels are still available, € 2.50 each, or all 8 for € 15.00.

Both sets of labels 13 different € 20.00.

The same Britain's civilians, but now standing outside the Soldiers' Soldiers shop and watching the troops pass by.

All boxes usually contained figures that were illustrated or listed on the box label, the mix of figures in a box often depended on the individual requirement of the client. A box of eight figures could therefore be eight figures all the same, or six similar figures plus officer and n.c.o. , and or drummers, colour bearers. The larger “band” boxes usually contained sixteen bandsmen of one regiment, but often a half band would be supplemented by eight figures from a different regiment. The Footguards could be serenading the Rifle Brigade, the Royal Navy could be playing for a contingent of troops in foreign service helmet etc. The variations were almost endless.

The small “chunky” boxes, 1980’s / 1985’s, were usually used for the Italian Count’s collection, and a few will have got into circulation, (but won’t have the Certificate of Authentication now provided with each box) and the box size was 60mm x 90mm x 110mm, with the lid and tray of the same size.

The Count’s figures were painted to a higher standard, of more specific regiments, and never more than 50 figures were produced, a maximum of six boxes in total. (50% loading to value of a “standard” box 3.)

The labels for the Count, for foreign regiments were buff in colour, and came in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The labels on the chunky boxes of British soldiers were the regular labels, cut down to fit the smaller box shape. Remember that the old chap was not interested in boxes or labels, just the soldiers, and his boxes contained 8 or 16 figures

In order to value your collection, from the current value per box of 8 figures in the standard fatter boxes, can be added the following percentage increases for those variations mentioned above, and listed below:

the rarest figures are those with peg arms, (add 30%),
the rarest bases are the square bases (add 50%),
the rarest arms are port-arms, (add 40%), this also increases the value of individual figures.

the rarest boxes are the slim boxes with the shallower lids, (add 25%)
the slim boxes with equal depth lids and trays (add 12.5%)
the rarest liner labels are the “Slaters” (add 40%)
the rarest liners are those for individual foot positions (add 10%)

Teecus increase the value by 50%. See the article on them on the site.
The “Count’s” figures increase the value by 50%.

And relating to question two, everyone is at liberty to offer for sale or exchange, any goods associated with our hobby, free of charge, via our blogs.

There, that must have pleased a lot of you.

Went for a “foreign” holiday last weekend to San Marino, just a couple of hours up the road from Umbria, but a different country, landlocked within Italy, and, would you believe, they actually wear the uniforms that we depicted them in... pretty good, eh!

Ciao

John Tunstill
Umbria, Italy