About Us

Old Toy Soldier Journal

Tradition… The Old Toy Soldier Journal has been at the heart and soul of the soldier collecting world. It has proudly been in continuous publication since 1976. Since its inception, the indexed journal has published around 1000 in-depth articles relating to toy soldiers. Each quarterly issue is packed with new and informative articles.

We are now focussing on our online presence but will continue to publish material in magazine format, continuing in the footsteps of our founding fathers back in 1976. Now in 2026 we are celebrating our 50th Anniversary.

We cover virtually all aspects of old toy soldier hobby. Every issue is filled with useful and instructive information on toy soldiers of all types – Britains, Dimestores, French and German lead and composition, plastic, as well as current production toy soldiers. You will also receive the latest auction reports, show information, book reviews and, of course, see the latest offerings from our advertisers.

If you like toy soldiers, this is the only site you will ever need.

The only Journal and Website needed by serious toy soldier collectors!

Old Toy Soldier Journal  – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

1. Goals of the journal

As a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, with all contributors and directors unpaid, we aim to help members to enjoy and grow their hobby, research their collections, find ways to buy & swap figures and connect with like-minded collectors. The OTSJ team want to share the enjoyment that we all get from collecting toy soldiers. We aim to build on the well-established foundation developed by our predecessors to produce the leading repository of reference information, knowledge, and connections about the toy soldier world.

2. Benefits of membership

Currently, all of the content is in the public domain. Running the magazine and website is however not cost free! In order to fund ongoing development, we need to generate income to cover the direct costs of establishing and maintaining the website. This will be covered initially by introducing a membership system.

You can support our efforts by becoming a paid-up member:

•            Membership paid this year (2026) will cover you until 31.12.2027.

•            Basic membership is USD$99

If you would like to help a bit more, there are additional voluntary membership levels as follows:

•            Silver $299

•            Gold $1000 upwards !!

We will produce a PDF version of the 2026 “double” issue which will be available to print in hard copy to complete your “on the shelf” collection of magazines. 

Current members will have access to all parts of the site, including all past issues of the magazine and a printable PDF version of the online “double” issue re-launched in autumn 2026.

If your annual membership lapses, then after three months your renewal date, all access to the members only area of the site will cease.

We will develop Members Personal Pages. These will be visible to members only.  These pages will enable members to include a summary of their main areas interest, including the ability to highlight particular things that they are looking for and offering the facility to buy from, swap and sell to other members. For example, “I am a UK collector of Britain’s lead Soldiers specialising in B size and Paris office figures. Please email me if you have any figures you want to sell swap or find out more about.”  Members will be able to upload photos as well as text.  However, any actual transactions must be undertaken off the OTSJ website.

These pages will also enable members to raise questions about rare figures of interest or those that you wish to identify.  If appropriate these can also be made public on the Reconnaissance page.

Members who wish to raise their public profiles can agree to have their contact details added to the page of Published members. This page will be in the members area. This is purely voluntary, and without specific authority we will never disclose a member’s private information if they chose to remain anonymous.  

As noted above, we also offer a voluntary higher level of membership for those wishing to provide additional help in re-establishing the journal, ensuring its future developing new and extended member services. You can get the additional kudos of being a silver or gold member of the journal by having this recognised on the Published members page. 

Members will also receive a complimentary enamel members badge in 2027 and the opportunity to buy other branded merchandise such as base-ball caps, mugs and t-shirts etc.

We will continue to offer for sale back issues of magazines to members only, subject to availability.

In 2027 we will be launching a limited range of merchandise suitable for gift suggestions to friends and family.

• Advertising in the Old Toy Soldier Journal 

The journal has been running since 1976, with a loyal fan base. It can already claim to be the most well-established and prestigious publication in this arena. It covers all periods, makers and materials and methods of fabrication used to produce toy soldiers from the mid-1800s until the current day.

Its content includes contributions from some of the most prominent authors, with well-researched articles, backed by a team of expert volunteers from all over the world. It builds upon an existing readership, who regularly buy from dealers and auctions, online and at shows.

Adverts will be on the publicly accessible area of the website as well as in the compendium issues which will be made available in pdf format for printing on a regular quarterly cycle.

Prices will be depend on size of the advert and the duration of the contract (details to be finalised shortly). Content can include links to your own website. Advertisers will also have full access to the non-public members only areas of the site.

Advertisers should include a link to their own website and any logos. We can provide help with layout, etc. If you have advertised previously with us or in other publications, the starting point would also always be your existing advert. We would also strongly suggest that you create a QR code to be included in your advert. We can help with this.

•  Auctioneers. 

Please note we are no longer directly or financially affiliated to any particular auction site. As in the past, we will comment upon the results of important sales from time to time.

If you wish to advertise future sales, you can place one off adverts, highlighting particular sets or collections coming up in your forthcoming auctions. These will be taken down one week after the auction takes place. Or we could do a Mail shot to our members on your behalf reminding them of the auction start dates and times, etc, to be sent out in advance of the auction. Prices on application.

The Old Toy Soldier Journal is published quarterly.

Publisher
Rob Wilson – [email protected]

Editor
Rob Wilson

Manager
Harry Kemp

Advertising
Harry Kemp

Circulation
Harry Kemp

Technical Production

Copy Editor
Jacqueline Wilson

Staff Photographers
Rob Wilson

Show Reports
Rob Wilson, Harry Kemp

Cartoonist
Luigi Toiati

Book Reviews
Rob Wilson

Specialist Contributors
Rob Wilson, Britains Military

Correspondence, including Manuscripts, Trade and Toy Soldier Marketplace Advertisements and all general inquires, should be forwarded to: [email protected]

or mailed to:
Old Toy Soldier Journal
Harry Kemp BSc FCA, Chartered Accountant

42A High Street, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 1JT, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1843 861188 or +44 7931351536

www.kempsaccounting.co.uk