Readers may recall the advertisement for this book appearing in Old Toy Soldier Magazine's Fall 2017, Volume 41, Number 3 issue under "Hobby News" on page 7. See that article for more information on purchase and an a table of contents in English. A series of comments follow for those who do not read German which is the language of publication.
The common knowledge that Allgeyer was a flat maker only is incorrect. Allgeyer produced very good flats, semi-rounds and round figures in the ever evolving markets and the depiction of civil and military history. Their quality and quantity was so good and breadth of coverage so large it drew competitors to copy their figures directly or changed the figures in scale to differentiate those copies from Allgeyer products. Copying firms included C.B.G., Ammon, Haffner and Krause. This occurs even today in manufacturing and is at the root of copyright issues. And some say "imitation" is the sincerest form of flattery.
Allgeyer’s production lasted over 100 + years and ended in 1897. Four generations of the family ran the firm which set a high bar for tin figure production and the depiction of historical events and play. Military history presentation began with Knights of the Medieval period and then followed with the contemporaneous campaigns and various battles of the 19th century which paralleled the existance of Allgeyer. A total of 14 different campaigns or battles are shown in the book. These include the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, the Siege of Sebastopol in 1854-55, the American Civil War 1862-65, the French intervention in Mexico in 1863, the Death of Louis Napoleon in 1879, and the French Conquest of Dahomey in 1892-94. On the civilian side there are portrayals of idyllic country life including meal preparation and consumption, markets and fairgrounds, parties, various buildings, celebrations and religious processions, circuses, exotic animals, bull fighting, and the derigueur consumption of beer in true Germanic tradition.
The popularity of Allgeyer figures remains even today. In the 2004 publication called „75 Jahre Deutsches Zinnfigurenmuseum, Geschichteder Zinnfigur, Geschichte mit Zinnfiguren” has a cover photograph of part of a parade of Allgeyer Brazilian Infantry and a box lid. The book is produced by the Deutsches Zinnfigurenmuseum in the Plassenburg in Kulmbach, home of the great international show that a number of collectors make a biennial pilgrimage in odd numbered years. The Plassenburg obviously think highly of Allgeyer despite being out of business for over 120 years while at one of their illustrious competitors in the 19th century is still in business even now. The museums’ book title translates as “75 Years of the German Tin Figure Museum, History of the Tin Figure, History with Tin Figures”. If one is to open the Allgeyer book to page 233, Chapter 6 one sees Brazilian infantry fighting Paraguayan infantry in the War of the Triple Alliance. Not bad for firm that disappeared so many years ago.
The Bavarian city of Fuerth where Allgeyer was located shares its eastern city limits with Nuremberg. Nuremberg is famous for its important role in the production and evolution of Germanic tin figures. Both cities became the nexus of production and innovation of figures during the Golden age of Germanic figure manufacture. Over time Fuerth alone had more than 50 different manufacturers according to a German source. Those included Haffner, Heinrich and Rupprecht. Nuremberg had such famous names as Ammon, Besold, Heinrichsen and Spenkuch. All of these manufacturers contributed to the popularity and subsequent growth of tin figures not only in German speaking lands but also world wide.
One of the book's outstanding values is in its multiple images contained throughout the text and that accompanying CD showing Herr Alfred Sulzer's encyclopedic collection of Allgeyer's production trying to recreate the entire catalog. Admittedly there are some other manufacturers work lightly sprinkled about for comparison and illustration. The four authors of the text are all well known throughout the German speaking world for their scholarship, expertise, collections and publications. All four of the authors are contributors to the well read "Die Zinnlaube."
The authors Herr Ignacio Czeguhn, Herr Martin Schabenstiel, Herr Erhard Schraudolph are German, Herr Alfred Sulzer is Swiss, and the designer, graphic illustrator and prime photographer Herr Robert Lonsing is Austrian. These gentlemen reflect their homelands’s contributions to the Golden Age of Germanic tin figure production and the multiple unique manufacturers in the field of tin figures which ultimately enriches many collectors shelves.
In my opinion just the accompanying CD alone warrants the purchase of the "Allgeyer" book. There are hundreds of photos on the CD. The German text is full of information but the richness of publication design and illustrations overcome the lack of English text. Shockingly there is actually a single English phrase in the text that I have found. It is up to the other readers to find it. Let us face it, the visual effectiveness does not need to be spelled out. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
Readers should also not forget the contribution of Herr Robert Lonsing for his book design, graphics and prime photography which all lend this book its visual appeal. It truly dazzles ones eyes. This is the third and final book that Herr Lonsing has contributed to in the tin figure world. His second book is called "Wollner" which many readers should be acquainted with. It is published in both German and English in a single edition. It too is a gem to gaze at and add to one's collection of literature. His first book which only is published in German is called “ Scheibert/Schiller, Geschichte einer Altwiener Zinnfiguren". In English it translates as " Scheibert/Schiller, A History of an old Viennese Tin Figure maker“. Scheibert/Schiller was a well known Viennese flat maker of high quality. This book too is visually very appetizing and belongs on ones shelf even if one does not read German.
Lastly, I wish to compliment all of those involved in the production of the Allgeyer book all deserve thanks for such a great effort. Well done gentlemen, well done.
For information on purchasing the Allgeyer book go to: www.allgeyerbuch.com
For information on purchasing the Wollner and Scheibert/Schiller books go to: www.wollner-zinnfiguren.com or www.wollner-toysoldiers.com
Happy reading/viewing,
Feldkappe
The common knowledge that Allgeyer was a flat maker only is incorrect. Allgeyer produced very good flats, semi-rounds and round figures in the ever evolving markets and the depiction of civil and military history. Their quality and quantity was so good and breadth of coverage so large it drew competitors to copy their figures directly or changed the figures in scale to differentiate those copies from Allgeyer products. Copying firms included C.B.G., Ammon, Haffner and Krause. This occurs even today in manufacturing and is at the root of copyright issues. And some say "imitation" is the sincerest form of flattery.
Allgeyer’s production lasted over 100 + years and ended in 1897. Four generations of the family ran the firm which set a high bar for tin figure production and the depiction of historical events and play. Military history presentation began with Knights of the Medieval period and then followed with the contemporaneous campaigns and various battles of the 19th century which paralleled the existance of Allgeyer. A total of 14 different campaigns or battles are shown in the book. These include the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, the Siege of Sebastopol in 1854-55, the American Civil War 1862-65, the French intervention in Mexico in 1863, the Death of Louis Napoleon in 1879, and the French Conquest of Dahomey in 1892-94. On the civilian side there are portrayals of idyllic country life including meal preparation and consumption, markets and fairgrounds, parties, various buildings, celebrations and religious processions, circuses, exotic animals, bull fighting, and the derigueur consumption of beer in true Germanic tradition.
The popularity of Allgeyer figures remains even today. In the 2004 publication called „75 Jahre Deutsches Zinnfigurenmuseum, Geschichteder Zinnfigur, Geschichte mit Zinnfiguren” has a cover photograph of part of a parade of Allgeyer Brazilian Infantry and a box lid. The book is produced by the Deutsches Zinnfigurenmuseum in the Plassenburg in Kulmbach, home of the great international show that a number of collectors make a biennial pilgrimage in odd numbered years. The Plassenburg obviously think highly of Allgeyer despite being out of business for over 120 years while at one of their illustrious competitors in the 19th century is still in business even now. The museums’ book title translates as “75 Years of the German Tin Figure Museum, History of the Tin Figure, History with Tin Figures”. If one is to open the Allgeyer book to page 233, Chapter 6 one sees Brazilian infantry fighting Paraguayan infantry in the War of the Triple Alliance. Not bad for firm that disappeared so many years ago.
The Bavarian city of Fuerth where Allgeyer was located shares its eastern city limits with Nuremberg. Nuremberg is famous for its important role in the production and evolution of Germanic tin figures. Both cities became the nexus of production and innovation of figures during the Golden age of Germanic figure manufacture. Over time Fuerth alone had more than 50 different manufacturers according to a German source. Those included Haffner, Heinrich and Rupprecht. Nuremberg had such famous names as Ammon, Besold, Heinrichsen and Spenkuch. All of these manufacturers contributed to the popularity and subsequent growth of tin figures not only in German speaking lands but also world wide.
One of the book's outstanding values is in its multiple images contained throughout the text and that accompanying CD showing Herr Alfred Sulzer's encyclopedic collection of Allgeyer's production trying to recreate the entire catalog. Admittedly there are some other manufacturers work lightly sprinkled about for comparison and illustration. The four authors of the text are all well known throughout the German speaking world for their scholarship, expertise, collections and publications. All four of the authors are contributors to the well read "Die Zinnlaube."
The authors Herr Ignacio Czeguhn, Herr Martin Schabenstiel, Herr Erhard Schraudolph are German, Herr Alfred Sulzer is Swiss, and the designer, graphic illustrator and prime photographer Herr Robert Lonsing is Austrian. These gentlemen reflect their homelands’s contributions to the Golden Age of Germanic tin figure production and the multiple unique manufacturers in the field of tin figures which ultimately enriches many collectors shelves.
In my opinion just the accompanying CD alone warrants the purchase of the "Allgeyer" book. There are hundreds of photos on the CD. The German text is full of information but the richness of publication design and illustrations overcome the lack of English text. Shockingly there is actually a single English phrase in the text that I have found. It is up to the other readers to find it. Let us face it, the visual effectiveness does not need to be spelled out. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
Readers should also not forget the contribution of Herr Robert Lonsing for his book design, graphics and prime photography which all lend this book its visual appeal. It truly dazzles ones eyes. This is the third and final book that Herr Lonsing has contributed to in the tin figure world. His second book is called "Wollner" which many readers should be acquainted with. It is published in both German and English in a single edition. It too is a gem to gaze at and add to one's collection of literature. His first book which only is published in German is called “ Scheibert/Schiller, Geschichte einer Altwiener Zinnfiguren". In English it translates as " Scheibert/Schiller, A History of an old Viennese Tin Figure maker“. Scheibert/Schiller was a well known Viennese flat maker of high quality. This book too is visually very appetizing and belongs on ones shelf even if one does not read German.
Lastly, I wish to compliment all of those involved in the production of the Allgeyer book all deserve thanks for such a great effort. Well done gentlemen, well done.
For information on purchasing the Allgeyer book go to: www.allgeyerbuch.com
For information on purchasing the Wollner and Scheibert/Schiller books go to: www.wollner-zinnfiguren.com or www.wollner-toysoldiers.com
Happy reading/viewing,
Feldkappe