By the early 1960s such famous toy brands as Airfix, Dinky, Corgi, FROG, Matchbox, Tri-ang, Meccano, Hornby and Scalextric had secured a firm hold on the imagination of children and hobbyists throughout the world. Other names were also arriving on the scene, including, Barbie, Revell, Monogram, Solido, Lego and Hasbro's GI Joe as well as a couple of dolls called Sindy and Tressy. It was truly a golden age.

Items connected with the British military have always been extremely popular with collectors, and the intricate and beautiful badges made to denote a soldier's regiment have always been keenly collected, due to their small size, high quality and the fascinating stories of military derring-do that lie behind each one.

Action Figures

by Arthur Ward

Published 4 February 2020
Collecting Action Figures presents an alphabetical survey of each of the major toy manufacturers and the whole array of action figures they produced. Covering everything from old-school GI Joe and Action Man figures, including the fantastic toys of Louis Marx and Mego, right through to the game-changing Star Wars 3-inch action figures of the 1970s and 1980s, this is the must-have reference guide for enthusiasts and beginners alike. With over 200 colour photographs, it details the history of action figures arising from the launch of fashion dolls in the 1950s; it describes the industry and consumer reactions to the first action figures; it reviews the many different incarnations that came to market; it looks at film and television tie-ins and finally, provides an essential guide to where to find gems, what to pay and how to look after them.

TV and Film Toys

by Arthur Ward

Published 21 May 2007
Since before World War Two manufacturers of toys and games have sought to cash in on the popularity of children's films and radio and television programmes by producing toys relating to them.