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Tradition… Old Toy Soldier is the heart and soul of the soldier collecting world and has proudly been in continuous publication since 1976. Since its inception, the indexed journal has published over 750 in-depth articles relating to toy soldiers. Each one of our quarterly issues is packed with useful and informative articles. We cover virtually all aspects of old toy soldier hobby. Every issue has 70 plus pages with useful and instructive information on Britains, Dimestores, 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 magazine you will ever need.
We are celebrating with some of our first issues. Just click on the magazine covers to view some of these archived issues from 1982! JOIN
US TODAY.
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- Four issues a year
- Continuously published since 1976
- The industry's most respected authors
- Useful articles, large photographs and color format
- The latest hobby news including auction and show previews and reviews
- Show and Auction calendar
- Comprehensive coverage of lead, plastic and compostion toy soldiers
- Britians and Dimestores regularly featured
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- Worldwide readership
- New toy soldier releases
- Large colorful ads by all the major auction houses, manufactures, dealers and distributors
- Advertiser's index
- Toy soldier marketplace/classified ads, for sale and wanted
- Book reviews
- A high quality, perfect bound magazine
- Essential reading for the discerning toy soldier collector
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For the past 32 years, the words "Old Toy Soldier" have become synonymous with Toy Soldier collecting, formerly Old Toy Soldier Newsletter, as some of our long time contributors still refer to it, the magazine has been an integral part of the Toy Soldier Hobby with its informative articles and regular features on all aspects of collecting Toy Soldiers and Figures.
Since the publication changed ownership in 2001, I have been proud to assume the mantle of editor, thus carrying on the tradition started by Steve and Josie Sommers.
As editor of what is surely regarded as THE publication in the Toy Soldier world I have the honor to work alongside many of the famous Toy Soldier names through the medium of the magazine.
Regular contributors, being experts in their own field, or collectors willing to share their knowledge and inform readers of new finds, all are an essential part and testimony to the success and popularity of the publication.
The list of contributors over the last 32 years reads like the "Who's Who" of the Toy Soldier World: Stan Alekna, Philip Dean, Richard O'Brien, James Opie, Don Pielin, Stewart Saxe, Steve and Jo Sommers, Joe Wallis, Rob Wilson, Lou Steinberg (the list is endless) have all been regular contributors and through the pages of the magazine shared their knowledge and thoughts on the hobby.
Advertising is an essential part of our hobby and without the support of our regular advertisers the magazine would not have attained the position that it has within our hobby's ranks.
To all who have supported Old Toy Soldier must go our thanks.
Over the last five years, readers will have noted a marked contrast in both the scope, depth, and method of production, with an increased number of pages, the addition of color and the advent of perfect binding thus making the publication more of a coffee table style reference publication.
My aim as editor is to maintain and increase the high standard and content that
has become the mainstay of the magazine throughout it's 32 year history and to
ensure that it stays at the forefront of Toy Soldier collecting worldwide. In
order to maintain this standard, it is essential that readers let us have their
comments and suggestions regarding the content of the publication. Therefore we
invite you to contact either the Editor at info@normanjoplin.com or Ray Haradin at
raytoys@aol.com with any comments that you
may have.
Happy reading and good luck with your collecting, Norman
Joplin
About Ray Haradin
My passion for early toys started when I was a kid. My
earliest memory is playing with a
William Tell bank in my Grandmother's house in 1970.I distinctly remember pressing William Tell's
foot which caused his gun to shoot a coin and knock the apple off his son's
head.With time my interests in
antiques developed as I would accompany my father and mother to local flea
markets and many early morning auctions in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. I had a keen eye for banks, both mechanical and still, but my allowance
dictated the pursuit of toy soldiers and coins. Dimestore figures, the miniature
World War I figures sold in the Five and
Dime Stores, formed my first collection.
From there I branched out into Britains, American Tin, Clockwork Toys, Bell Toys and Horse Drawn Toys. After becoming comfortable with the early
American Toys my pursuit turned overseas with particular interest in the early
German manufacturers, especially Marklin and Heyde. I have also been known to handle Lehmann and
Martin toys. I do have interests outside
of the "Toy" world, the
pursuit of original Tiffany lamps ranks
high on my list along with the study of some local Pittsburgh artists who
painted in the area at the beginning of the 20th century.
By the late 1970's I
was an established dealer throughout the
Greater Pittsburgh area displaying at local flea markets and small regional
shows. On my 15th birthday in
1979, I exhibited at my first major
show, The Allentown Toy Show and have
been a perennial exhibitor at that venue ever since.
Antiques have always been my main pursuit.
I had a brief diversion while I attended the
University of Colorado, Boulder Campus where I earned a B.A. in Chemistry in
1986.
In 1982 I joined the Still Bank Collectors Club
and then the Mechanical Bank Collectors of
America in 1988. I served as the MBCA's
President from 1995 through 1997 and have been their current Secretary since
1997. I have also been a certified
member of the American Society of Appraisers as well as a member of the Antique
Toy Collectors of America since 1990. It has been a pleasure to have participated at most major shows across the globe.
The following is my yearly schedule:
January: |
All-American Collectors Show, Los Angeles, California |
February: |
South Florida Toy Soldier Show, West Palm Beach , Florida
York Toy, Doll and Advertising Show, York , Pennsylvania |
March: |
The West Coaster, Orange County, California |
April: |
Antique Toy Collectors of America Convention--location changes annually
Chicago Toy Show, St. Charles, Illinois |
May: |
Miniature Figure Collectors of America, Wilmington, Delaware |
June: |
Still Bank Collectors of America--location changes annually |
August: |
All-American Collectors Show, Los Angeles, California |
September: |
Mechanical Bank Collectors of America-location changes annually
Norman Joplin's Toy Figure Show, London, England Old Toy Soldier Show, Chicago Illinois |
October: |
Chicago Toy Show, St. Charles, Illinois |
November: |
Allentown Toy Show, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Hackensack Toy Soldier Show, Hackensack, New Jersey
Toymania, Paris, France |
The objects I buy and sell are my core business;
however, being active in the antique
community brings me tremendous joy. In
2000 I was offered the trade journal Old Toy Soldier "The Journal for
Collectors".The magazine had been
in continuous publication since
1976. There were concerns in the soldier
community that it would be bought by a
foreign company and absorbed into their publications. Being a subscriber since its inception, I felt it was time to put the skills learned
by producing and distributing my Toys of Yesteryear catalogs to further promote the hobby. I acquired Old Toy Soldier and recruited the
renowned author and auction house expert
Norman Joplin to be editor. Since then
we have expanded coverage through well researched and written articles, moved to a color format and increased
subscriptions. It has been a challenge that both Norman and I relish.
By 2005 I was
up for another challenge and decided it was time to enter the auction
world. Having been offered the McCumber
collection of mechanical and still banks, I joined forces with Leon and Steven
Weiss of Gemini Antiques. These long
time friends and well known Madison Avenue dealers and I formed RSL Auctions
which has hosted two sales a year.
Millions of dollars worth of mechanical and still banks and fine early
toys have been sold at our well attended
auctions since then.
Based on the success of RSL Auctions, the fact that
Christe's auction house in New York and London announced they would no longer handle toy soldiers and
the lack of an American auction house dedicated
to the sale of toy figures, Norman
Joplin and I decided to started Old Toy
Soldier Auctions USA in 2008. In our
first year we hosted two successful sales, selling over 1000 lots of toy
soldiers.
What lies ahead is the force that drives me. Be assured that the basis of my business is
the pursuit of great "stuff".
Norman Joplin - Antique and Vintage Toy Soldier and Figure Historian, Author & Appraiser
Norman John Joplin, born June 14th 1946,is a British Citizen who has been granted permanent residence status in the United States based on his exceptional ability in a specialized field of knowledge in connection with the Social History of toy figures as viewed through the eyes of children’s toys during the period 1893 to 1966.
Married to Susan Catherine Joplin.
Telephone 262 692 3857
Email info@normanjoplin.com
Web site www.normanjoplin.com
Consultant to Christies Auction House UK & USA 1991 - 2007
1991 Appointed Non Resident consultant to Christies Auctioneers London & New York- Specialist appraiser and cataloguer in relation to Antique Toy Soldiers a nd Figure auctions.
1993 Consultant to Britains Limited and Christies in relation to the sale of the Britains Company Archive.
1993 Consultant to The Guards Museum & Christies in relation to Special Exhibitions mounted in London to celebrate the 40th accession to the throne of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2nd.
1997 Special Consultant to Christies UK and New York, in relation to the Malcolm Forbes Collection of Toy Soldiers.
Cataloguer and Appraiser of the collection for Christies.
1998 – 2007
Official Consultant to Christies UK in relation to all toy soldier and figure auctions held in the United Kingdom.
Hugo Marsh, Head of Christies Toy Department can be contacted to verify the above.
Confirmation of the above is also available from Daniel Agnew.
Supporting letter also available upon request.
2001 – 2019
Editor of Old Toy Soldier Magazine, the only magazine worldwide published in relation to collecting Old Toy Soldiers and Figures.
Issued Quarterly. Banksville Express Printing PA. Retired.
2001-Present
Consultant appraiser on an ad hoc basis to Sloan’s Auction Company Florida and Washington DC.
1991 – 2000 Organizer and instigator of The British Toy Soldier and Figure Show Royal National Hotel .London. England.
Europe’s largest Toy Soldier and Figure Show scheduled for three times each year.
2005 –Present
Organizer of Norman Joplin’s Old Toy Soldier and Figure Show. Annual event Holiday Inn Bloomsbury London.
The only event worldwide specializing in the Exhibition and sale of Old Toy Soldiers and Figures.This show no longer takes place
2005 – Present Advisor to William Britain/ Ken Osen– Toy Soldier Manufacturers Iowa USA
2007 Consultant to The Chicago Museum of History and the Chicago Historical Society.
Specialist project cataloguing the Private collection of Edward Jones
2007 Consultant advisor to the Citadel Military Academy South Carolina.
2007 – Present Present Old Toy Soldier Auctions USA. Consultant Cataloguer, Appraiser.
The only US based specialist Auction Company devoted to Old Toy Soldiers and Figures.
Joint partnership with Ray Haradin of Toys of Yesteryear.
2007
Specialist cataloguer to Special Auction Services Reading UK
Associations
Member of the British Model Soldier Society
Membership Number 0140
1970 Began extensive research into the origins and manufacture of Toy Soldiers and Figures in relation to valuation and related social history of Children’s Toys
1972-2009 Author of numerous articles on Toy Soldiers and Figures for Old Toy Soldier Newsletter.
Now Editor of Old Toy Soldier Magazine see above
Publications - Author Norman John Joplin
1987 British Toy Figures – Arms and Armour Press. UK
ISBN 0-85368-781-1
The first book published on non-military toy figures, included valuation and price guide.
1992 Toy Collectors Handbook contributor – Goldfinch Books UK
ISBN 0 9518036 0 3
Valuation Guide included
1993 The Great Book of Hollow Cast Figures –New Cavendish Books UK
ISBN 1 872727 26 3
Considered the definitive work at the time of publishing and nicknamed the “Bible” amongst collectors
Valuation Guide included.
1994 Toy Soldiers – USA Edition - Quintet Publishing/Courage Books UK
ISBN 1 56138 432 1
Library of Congress Publication Number 93 74690
Valuation and Rarity Guide included
1994 Toy Soldiers – UK Edition Quintet Publishing / Apple Press
ISBN 1 85076 533 2
0D
Valuation and Rarity Guide included
1995 Toys and Games Antique Checklist – Millers Reed International Books UK
ISBN 185732 273 8
Price Guide Included
1996 Toy Soldier Study Guide & Identifier- Chartwell Books UK
ISBN 0 7858 0573 7
Valuation Guide included
1998 Spielzeugsoldaten Das neue Kompakte Bestimmungsbuh – Germany
ISBN 3 8290 1288 8
Valuation Guide included
1999 The Great Book of Hollow Cast Figures – New Cavendish Books UK
Second Edition ISBN 1 87272778 6
Valuation Guide included
1999 Toy Soldiers Collectors Corner Edition- Quartrum Grange Books UK
ISBN 1 84013 257 4
Valuation Guide included
2000 American Dimestore Toy Soldiers and Figures – Schiffer Publishing USA.
US Social History related publication
ISBN Library of Congress # 0 7643 1189 1
Valuation/Price Guide Included
2002 Toy Soldiers – Eagle Edition UK
ISBN 1 86160 513 7
Valuation Guide included.
2002 Britains Civilian Toy Figures – Schiffer Publishing USA
ISBN Library of Congress # 0 7643 1520-X
Valuation/Price Guide included
2005 Hollow Cast Civilian Toy Figures -Schiffer Publishing USA
ISBN Library of Congress # 07643 2226 5
Valuation/Price Guide included
2002- 2020 Published over 118 Research articles in Old Toy Soldier Magazine.
2007 Britains New Toy Soldier and Metal Models 1973 to 2007
To be published 2008
2008
Britains New Toy Soldiers and Traditional Metal Models 1972-2008
This will be the first book covering the subject of all Britains New Toy Soldiers and Limited Editions.
Published 2008 by Schiffer Publishing PA USA.
2009 Work in Progress
Assisting Lou Sandbote with the Holgar Eriksson History ,A reference book related to the renowned Swedish Artist of Military Miniatures
2011 Old Toy Soldiers and Figures ( Four Decades of British Advertising ) with Philip Dean Book Blurb Private publication.
2013 Assisted with cataloguing The Shamus Wade and Peter Flatau collections for SAS auctions UK.
2019 With Lou Sandbote Co author of The Toy Soldier Artistry of Swedish Designer Holgar Eriksson
2020 Currently writing Britains Toy Soldier factory Behind the Scenes. Publication delayed in light of Covid-19.
2020 Continuing to research articles for Old Toy Soldier Magazine.
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