"Huge Britains Sale on ebay" Topic

I just participated in my first "live" auction, on eBay. Very exciting.

There was a hugh sale of Britians. Just about every set ever made, some noted as from 1900-1930, besides post war sets. Naval landing party from various decades, half dozen Royal Horse and also Field Artillery sets. Sets I have never heard of. I spent too much.

Anyway, I wondered if anyone else was in this. Get anything you have wanted. I got a post-war Mountain Artillery in box, an Arab in Desert Display set, pre-war Welsh Fusliers with the goat, odds and ends of other sets, when they were under 40 GBP. I missed out on the 1920's Boxer Chinese and the pre-war greeks. Some sets were going for multiple thousands of pounds. Coronation and display sets. The big zoo display set went for $1,200. USD I would have gone to $400 USD for it.

Any one know were all these sets -- 300-400-- came from? The company doing it was Vectis Auctions. Also lots of books, board games, and just about every Dinky and Matchbox car ever made. I have been doing ebay for 3-4 years and never before have seen so many Britians at once, nor have done live auction.

By the way, anyone know of a Britians Yahoo group, or one that deals with lead toy soldiers?

Maybe Old Toy Soldier Newsletter has a web site of some kind.

Bob,
Sounds like you got an early and spectacular Christmas present from yourself. So I guess you won't be looking for my SCW for now.

I didn't even know there was such a thing as live ebay auctions.

The ones I've seen were once the domain of independent auction houses but eBay appear to have their noses in the trough now.
I was considering registering for the Vectis live auctions a while back but eBay's involvement sort of put me off to be honest.
I suppose it's a logical way for auction houses to reach a potentially huge audience.

Bob, if I spent that amount on my toy soldiers for Christmas, the old lady would have my head on a platter.

Interestingly enough, though, I bought myself a set of Britains deetail figs (the cheaper plastic line) for Xmas this year. Fort Saint Jean with 80 figures of Arabs and French Foreign Legion:

redskorpio.com.ar

"La Legion!"

"Allah Akbar!"

Whoops, that link is to the main page. The FFL page is here:

link

Void,
The old lady (actually younger than me) is planning a trip to Italy next year so no head will roll.
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The online-live auction was lots of fun. No stealers. Bids are posted as they are made, floor or internet bidder noted. THere is a button with the next bid increment, if you click too slow, someone else will get that amount. I lost a couple thinking that I had the bid, then noticed that if it were mine, it was in green.

I love those old Britians, I wonder if I should give up the rest of the hobby, and just collect them. I really wanted these Chinese
auction

But I could not see spending that much. The Changing of the Guard, double deep, 2 foot square box, $5,000. USD It was maybe $50 USD in the 1960's