COLLECTIBLE ANTIQUE TOYS

The world of toys, dolls, automatons, miniature or pedal cars, as well as electric and steam-powered trains, evokes childhood—a bygone era that some of us may never have known. It is the childhood of our grandfathers and even great-grandfathers, who dedicated their leisure time to chasing hoops, or meticulously assembling dozens of tracks to build their model railway circuits, while young ladies cradled their porcelain or rag dolls in lace sheets. As in all fields, the world of antique toys is governed by codes that only an expert can decipher. The resources and value of the wonderful and mysterious objects you present to them will hold no secrets. Indeed, many manufacturers from the 19th century, the golden age of toys and dolls, did not survive into the 20th century. Only a few, such as Mattel with its Barbie, Solido, Majorette, and Meccano, are still present today. The keen eye and expertise of Gilles Scherpereel and Christian Poulin will help you avoid acquiring copies and enable you to optimize your purchases of various collectible and passion-driven items.