This guide covers toys and games that were made specifically for the American market. It has introductory sections which provide an overview of the market, a guide to buying and selling toys and games, tips on care and repair and a primer on the history of toys and games and how they have been made over the years. The main "Fact File" section is organized by types of toy and game, from early wooden toys to pressed steel and cast iron, looking at the first battery-operated items, right up to the plastic character toys of the 21st century. Trains, wind-ups, soldiers and board games are included. Information on the principal toy makers and the identifying features of their products helps the reader to recognize and assess items they encounter when hunting for toy treasures. Colour features look at the highlights and turning points of toy production, decade by decade, from the 1880s to the 1990s - including the major toys that were introduced during each decade, as well as those that broke sales records or make a major contribution to the industry. There is a list of shops,dealers, auction houses and Internet resouces.
Table of Contents
The history of toys; why we collect things; taking care of your collection; buying and selling; the basics; fact files - wooden toys, tinplate toys; antique toys - 1880-1990 - cast-iron toys, board games, wind-up toys; industrial age toys - 1910-1930 - toy trains, presssed steel toys, wind-up toys, plush toys; post war toys - 1940-1960 - toy soldiers, die-cast toys, character toys, novelty toys, battery-operated toys, plastic toys; popular culture toys - 1970-1990; where to buy and sell collectible toys; useful addressess.
Author Biography
Tim Luke is a specialist in antique toys, dolls, bears, and pop culture collectables. He was the Director of the Collectables Department at Christie's in New York City, before becoming an independent consultant, appraiser, and auctioneer. An author of a number of books on the subject, he has also written articles for such publications as Antique Toy World, Teddy Bear Review, The Palm Beach Post, and AntiqueWeek. Tim has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS's This Morning, CNN, Lifetime Television, and the Discovery Channel. Tim is an appraiser on the popular PBS/WGBH series, The Antiques Roadshow. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Tim Luke resides in Florida, where he co-owns an appraisal and auction business. He is an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers and a frequent lecturer on the history of toys. Lita Solis-Cohen is Senior Editor at Maine Antiques Digest and has contributed to many books on the subject of antiques and collectables. She has worked in the antiques trade for over 30 years and is an advisor to the Antiques Roadshow Bookclub.
