Several books arrived over the holiday period, so here are the new additions:
Die Zinnlaube started life as a magazine and is the; Journal of the German society "Collectors of Old Toy Figures" but has become an annual publication and is now more of a book, this is volume 15. Printed as a limited edition of just 200 copies, 140 pages (incl. cover), illustrated in full colour throughout, text in German and English, it costs 15 euro plus postage.
The coverage is very much German centric and aimed at the top tier (i.e. expensive) end of the hobby, mostly early tin flats and solid lead figures, rather out of my league but always fascinating to see some different and unusual toy soldiers.
contents of this issue include:
Prince Murat and the French General Staff of 1870
The Fire Brigade made by Spenkuch
Female Colonels-in-Chief as toy figures,
The toy soldier workshop of Christian Wollrath,
Spanish General Espartero made by Sohlke,
Solferino - two testimonies of playing with tin soldiers in the 19th century,
The Little Wars of Fieldmarshal August von Mackensen and his toy soldiers.
There is now a website for Die Zinnlaube where you can download the first three issues as PDFs for free, buy back issues and subscribe.
Great to see this wonderful magazine again! For years I ordered one from Mercator on eBay for Christmas, but this year I never saw them offered. Thanks to you Brian, I know to be on the lookout for this latest issue!
ReplyDeleteHi Brad, I understand that Adrian of Mercator has now retired so I don't know if he will still carry Zinnlaube but they have now set up a website that you can order through, I'll put up a link to it.
DeleteI am most intrigued by the Field Marshal and his collection…
ReplyDeleteA link would be great.
Alan Tradgardland
The text of the article draws on von Mackensen's memoirs of his childhood toy soldiers but sadly there are no pictures, there are however figures made in tin, lead and composition depicting the Field Marshal in his distinctive Hussar uniform from various different manufacturers.
Delete