B is for Britains' Big Book of . . . !

I have this book, but I think I got my copy cheap from the wonderful second-hand book cooperative in Wantage a decade, or more ago, without the slip-case /box and freebie of a set of reproduction hollow-cast toy soldiers, manufactured by Britains themselves, for the mighty-tome, which is authored by the inimitable James Opie, so it was nice to be able to shoot it elsewhere the other day.

 

There's very little left to say or show from Britains, and while there was a little more history to them, I believe James has updated the story in a smaller work, with the final death and shenanigans surrounding it. The box is not in the best condition!

The all important (to completists) set of figures, being colonial era ceremonial troops in their parade finest, foot guards and lancers. There were 2500 copies of this version issued and each is numbered, if not also signed by the author? I didn't check.

With the equally (to the history of toy soldiers) important cavalry horse, much copied, first by other lead and hollow-cast makers, then in plastic by the likes of Bergan/Beton, Frazier & Glass, Airfix, Tudor Rose, Reamsa and Reisler as 2/3rd generation, then by Hong Kong and various French/Spanish/Italian producers as bazaar/'Sobre'/rack-toy's and premiums (Bonux) in smaller sizes, often much smaller/thinner, often pulling horse-drawn equipment/transport.