Knowledge is power! Learn more about your own collection by investing in a good book.
This page provides a comprehensive guide to books about collecting toy soldiers, with guidance on the key sources. People have been collecting toy soldiers for centuries, but it was only towards the end of the 20th century that this great hobby began to be properly documented.
Pioneering authors such as H G Wells with his books on wargaming led the way but it was not until the 1970s with the publication of early works by Len Richards John G Garratt that the toys began to be described in detail, including who manufactured them.
Subsequently, with contributions by some of the giants of the hobby such as Christian Blondieau, Norman Joplin, Richard O’Brien, James Opie, Andrew Rose and Joe Wallis, the story has become much clear.
The following Bibliography sets out some of our recommended reads, including those regarded as essential for the serious collector.
As well as books we also included links and references to some Magazines and Auction catalogues.
In recent years the increasing popularity of self-publication using Book Blurb, etc, has lead to the production of a number of niche publications that are also included here.
This list will be updated and added to as new material is published.
If there is something important we have missed please let us know:
Email: [email protected]
TOY SOLDIER COLLECTORS BIBLIOGRAPY
Stuart Asquith: – The Collector’s Guide to New Toy Soldiers, Argus Books, UK, 1991
Christian Blondieau: – Collection de CBG Mignot, Paris, Christian Blondieau, 1993 –
Christian Blondieau: – Petits Soldats, Paris, Christian Blondieau,1997
Peter Blum: – Military Miniatures, Paul Hamlyn, London, 1964 –
Peter Blum: – Model Soldiers: A Basic guide to Painting, Animating and Converting, Arms and Armour Press, London, 1971
Tony Borges and Florian Winckel: – Heyde-Hunters, Dela Rosa Editions, 2012
Bertel Bruun: – The Confident Collector Toy Soldiers Identification and Price Guide, Avon Books, 1994
Barney Brown: – Britains Herald Plastic Farm Models 1955-69 – A Collector’s Guide, Plastic Warrior Publications, 2009
Barney Brown: – Britains Herald Plastic Zoo Models 1960-1971 – A Collector’s Guide, Plastic Warrior Publications, 2009
W. Y. Carman: – Model Soldiers, World Publishing Company, New York, 1972
Christie’s South Kensington: – The Britains Archive Post-Sale Edition, Christie’s, UK, 1994
Simon Clark: – Toy Soldiers: Building and Refining a Collection, The Crowood Press Ltd., 2023
Peter Cole: – Suspended Animation: An Unauthorised History of Herald & Britains Plastic Figures, A Plastic Warrior Publication, 2004
Peter Cowan: – Toy Knights “The Other 100 Years War”, UK, Roundtower Design, 2004
Peter Cowan: – Selwyn Miniatures: The Heraldic Knights of Roy Selwyn Smith
Johnathan Crawford: – World Toy Soldier Directory and Compendium, Cullen & Coolidge Publishing, US,1998
Philip Dean: – Wend-Al of Blandford: Aluminium Toy figures, 2005
Philip Dean: – Johillco – Second to None,
Orazio Di Mauro : – Soldatini, Toy Soldiers, Soldaditos, Gribaudo, 2002
John Franklin: – Britains and Other Interesting Toy Soldiers: Themes and Highlights from Sixty Years of Collecting, Pen & Sword Military, 2024
Juan Martin Garcia: – Soldaditos de plastico REAMSA – Plastic Toy Soldiers – Reamsa, 2021
John G. Garratt: – Model Soldiers A Collector’s Guide, Seeley Service & Co, UK, 1959
John G. Garratt: – Collecting Model Soldiers, 1975
John G. Garratt: – Model soldiers for the Connoisseur, 1972
John G. Garratt: – World Encyclopedia of Model Soldiers, 1981
Peter Greenhill: – Heraldic Miniature Knights, Guild of Master Craftsmen Publishing Ltd, 1998
Peter Greenhill: -Heraldic Sketchbook, Guild of Master Craftsmen Publishing Ltd, 2010
Peter Greenhill & Mario Venturi: – Creating Miniature Knights – Cavalieri in Miniatura, Scramasa, 2005
Markus Grein: – Mit Heyde-Figuren um die Welt: With Heyde figures around the world, 2003
Henry Harris: – Model Soldiers, Octopus Books, UK, 1962
Jim Hillestad: – A Guide to Collecting Toy Soldiers, The Toy Soldier
Peter Johnson: – Toy Armies, B.T. Batsford Ltd., UK, 1981
Norman Joplin: – British Toy Figures, Arms & Armour Press, UK,1989 –
Norman Joplin: – The Great Book of Hollow Cast Figures, New Cavendish Books, UK, 1993 –
Norman Joplin: – Toy Soldiers: The Collector’s Guide to Identifying, Enjoying and Acquiring New and Vintage Toy Soldiers, Running Press Book Publishers, 1994 –
Norman Joplin: – Toy Soldiers: The New Compact Study Guide and Identifier, 1996
Norman Joplin: – Toy Soldiers Identifier, Apple Press, 1999
Norman Joplin: – Old Toy Soldiers and Figures 1900-1939 Four Decades of Advertising Blurb Books, 2014
Norman Joplin: – American Dimestore Toy Soldiers & Figures, Schiffer Publishing, 2000
Norman Joplin: – Britains New Toy Soldiers 1973-Present, Schiffer Publishing, 2008
Norman Joplin & Philip Dean: -Britains Civilian Toy Figures, Schiffer Publishing, 2002
Norman Joplin & Philip Dean: – Hollow Cast Civilian Toy Figures, Schiffer Publishing, 2005
George Kearton: -The Collectors Guide to Plastic Toy soldiers 1947-1987, lulu.com, 2012
K. Cory Keeble: – The Hon. Henry N. R. Jackman Collection of Toy Soldiers in the Royal Ontario Museum, ROM, 2002
Henry Kurtz & Burtt Ehrlich: – The Art of the Toy Soldier, New Cavendish Books, 1987
Ian McKenzie: – Collecting Toy Soldiers, B.T. Batsford, UK, 1975
R. Kingsley: – Toy Soldiers, Grange Books Ltd., 2000
Robert Lonsing: – Wollner: History and Catalogue of a Viennese Toy Soldier Manufacturer, 2009
Michael Maughan: – Timpo Model Toys: The A to Z of Timpo, 2020
Jean Nicollier: – Collecting Toy Soldiers, Charles E. Tuttle, 1967
Richard O’Brien: – Collecting Toy Soldiers No. 1, No. 2 & No. 3 An Identification and Value Guide, Books Americana, 1988, 1992, 1995 –
Richard O’Brien: – Collecting American Made Toy Soldiers, Identification and Value Guide, Books Americana, 1996
Richard O’Brien: – Collecting Foreign Made Toy Soldiers, Identification and Value Guide, Books Americana, 1997
James Opie: – The Encyclopaedia of British Toy Soldiers, an occasional distribution of information to subscribers, 1978
James Opie: – Toy Soldiers, Shire Publications Ltd, UK, 1983
James Opie: – Britains Toy Soldiers 1893-1932, Victor Gollancz Ltd, UK, 1985
James Opie: – On Guard, New Cavendish, 1985
James Opie: – British Toy Soldiers 1893 to the Present, Arms and Armour Press, 1985
James Opie: – Collecting Toy Soldiers, Collins Ltd, UK, 1987
James Opie: – Toy Soldiers, Phillips Collectors Guides, Boxtree Ltd, UK, 1989
James Opie: – The Great Book of Britains, New Cavendish Books, UK, 1993
James Opie: – Pocket Guide to Britain’s Hollowcast Toy Soldiers, New Cavendish Books, 1999
James Opie: – Collecting Toy Soldiers in the 21st Century, Pen & Sword Books, 2011
James Opie: – Britains Toy Soldiers: The History and Handbook 1893-2013, Pen & Sword Military, UK, 2016
Jorge Luis Oria & Ignacio Oria: – Los Soldados de Plomo de Jorge Luis Oría, “Historia de una Colección”. January 1, 2016. Blurb RPI Print Inc. • https://www.blurb.ca/b/6797139-historia-de-una-colecci-n
Dominique Pascal: – La Folie des Petits Soldats, Flammarion, Paris, 2001 –
Dominique Pascal: – Collectible Toy soldiers, Flammarion, Paris, 2003
Edouard Pemzec : – Figurines et Soldats de Plomb, EPA, 2001
Don Pielin, Norman Joplin, Verne Johnson: – American Dimestore Toy Soldiers & Figures, Schiffer Publishing, US, 2000.
Don Pielin with Kent Kline: – The American Toy Soldier Art of J. Edward Jones, Art Book Publishing, 2012
Reggie Pollaine & David Hawkins: – The War Toys 1: the Story of Die Geschichte von Hausser-Elastolin, New Cavendish Books, 1991
Ed Poole with contributions from Peter Nussbaum: – Swords and Roses: Collecting Guide for Britains Swoppet Knights
David Pullen: – Britains Toy Models Catalogues 1970-1979: with Comprehensive Indices, Veloce Publishing Ltd., 2019
L. W. Richards: – Old British Model Soldiers 1893-1918, Arms and Armour Press, UK, 1970
Hans Henning Roer: – Old German Toy Soldiers, Palagonia Verlag, UK, 1993
Andrew Rose: – The Collector’s All-colour Guide to Toy Soldiers, Salamander Books, UK, 1997
John Ruddle: – Collector’s Guide to Britain’s Model Soldiers, Special Interest Model Books, UK, 1980
Edward Ryan: – Paper Soldiers, New Cavendish books, 1999
Richard Scholl: – Toy Soldiers: A Century of International Miniatures, Courage Books, 2004
Luigi Toiati: – The History of Toy Soldiers, Pen & Sword Military, 2019
Luigi Toiati: – The History of Science fiction and its Toy figurines: Sci-fi Figurines and Outer Space Adventures, Pen & Sword Military, 2023
Joe Wallis: – Regiments of All Nations, Britains Ltd. Lead Soldiers 1946-66, US, 1981
Joe Wallis: – Regiments of All Nations, Britains Ltd. Lead Soldiers 1946-66, US, 2011 (All-colour edition)
Joe Wallis: – Armies of the World, Britiains Ltd. Lead Soldiers 1925-1941 US, 1993
Joe Wallis: – Soldiers of Greater Britain: Britains Limited Lead Soldiers 1893-1924
H. G. Wells: – Floor Games, J. M. Dent, 1931, Reprint (first published 1911 in UK and 1912 in US)
H. G. Wells: – Little Wars, Arms & Armour Press, UK, 1970 Reprint (first published 1913) – the full text of both Little Wars and Floor Games is available on Project Gutenberg Archive.org
Mark Young: – Blast Off: Rockets, Robots & Rarities, Dark Horse, 2002