Help Identifying Various Soldiers/Romans? (LOTS of pics!) (1 Viewer)
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theBaron
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Moar pics
These are all figures made by King-White in Hong Kong, and which were marketed/sold most prominently through Reeves, International. They were also sold by other retailers, such as The Treasure Chest in Florida, and the American Revolution figures were available in gift shops at some national parks or historical sites, such as Valley Forge and Mount Vernon. They were also apparently sold in the USSR/Russia, because I have seen some of the Napoleonic figures in blister packs with Cyrillic writing on the cardboard backing.
King-White were made from the early Seventies up to around 1995. Their catalog included Ancients, British and French knights at Agincourt, the American Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, the Civil War, the Boxer Rebellion, Samurai, and WWII.
These figures are the progenitors of the "Chinese style", which influenced early K&C and Frontline figures, and which was carried forward by Blue Box. And Ed Colaric's samurai range fits in very well with the KW/Reeves samurai. KW/Reeves figures can also be identified by the underside of the base, which often shows the marks of cutting the sprue gate and grinding the stub. Often there is a mark, which I have taken to be a Chinese character related to the production process.
That cannon was used in several of their catalogs, from the Revolutionary War, to the Napoleonic Wars and the Civil War.
Mounted figures came with those wooden bases as shown in your photos. They also produced a couple of color party sets, a "Spirit of '76" set, and Union and Confederate color parties, that were mounted on similar wooden bases.
Figures were available in both matte and gloss finishes.
I like King-White figures for the variety they produced, and for the style, which is relatively well-detailed compared to traditional toy soldiers, but still retains the look of a toy. I've got a good collection of these, which started with a foot figure of George Washington, that I bought on a visit to Mount Vernon years ago.
I have a catalog at home and can get the designations for each of the figures in your photos.
Prost!
Brad
Wow, i never could have expected such an in depth response! You have quite an impressive knowledge of these models, i take it you have been collecting for awhile.
The details on these are quite impressive; i hadn't really looked at them in ~20 years and was amazed by all the little touches. As i went through i got nostalgic feelings when i would grab my old favorites.
Don't worry about finding the designation of these, though i do appreciate it! I plan on selling the majority of them and keeping the few that i was truly attached to. That is unless you are curious yourself as to what they are! In your opinion would it be better to sell these on ebay or something closer to these forums? Once again thank you so much for the comprehensive response,i truly appreciate it!
The details on these are quite impressive; i hadn't really looked at them in ~20 years and was amazed by all the little touches. As i went through i got nostalgic feelings when i would grab my old favorites.
Don't worry about finding the designation of these, though i do appreciate it! I plan on selling the majority of them and keeping the few that i was truly attached to. That is unless you are curious yourself as to what they are! In your opinion would it be better to sell these on ebay or something closer to these forums? Once again thank you so much for the comprehensive response,i truly appreciate it!
tdubel
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To further Brad's response, they were also prominently sold in FAO Schwartz in NYC and were actually as a kid my introduction to the modern style toy solider in variations other than Britains Marching Bands or Color Guards! I have collected these since age 5 and it is neat to see you have the Romans as they are not as often seen as the ACW, Naps, Rev War figures. Additionally, King White also produced Chess Sets as well as other one off type pieces including some 90mm figures and additional items. I have nearly the entire catalog, am only missing a few pieces of which I continue to scour the earth for. I consider them my first toy soldiers.
Now, the 2 figures you have with circle bases are not King White, they are another Company which is escaping me, but they were 75mm tourist figures that were sold in gift shops at battlefields, hotels, etc. I have nearly all of them too, they made about 6 Naps and 6 ACW figures.
TD
Now, the 2 figures you have with circle bases are not King White, they are another Company which is escaping me, but they were 75mm tourist figures that were sold in gift shops at battlefields, hotels, etc. I have nearly all of them too, they made about 6 Naps and 6 ACW figures.
TD
theBaron
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You're very welcome! As you can see, we like puzzles here, too.
As far as selling them goes, you could try eBay, or through the forum, too. I recommend having a look on eBay and reviewing existing auctions, including following them through to their conclusion, to get an idea of current asking prices and the prices collectors are willing to pay.
I will say that for myself, I look for the foot figures at $5 apiece, and $15 to $20 for the mounted figures, though I look for bargains, of course. I have seen them offered at a range of asking prices on eBay, but the key is to see where any given auction ends up. There are some auctions up now, for foot figures, which are way too overpriced, and consequently, they have been posted and re-posted several times, and no one has bitten.
You can ask a higher price, of course, if you have the original packaging. The figures were sold variously in clear plastic clamshell boxes; vacuform packages consisting of a hollow white bottom to hold the figure, and a clear piece that fit over the base and sealed it in; to cardboard boxes. I have the Napoleonic line infantry band, for example, in a heavy cardboard box with nice textured paper overlaid on it, containing each of the musicians in a smaller box.
Prost!
Brad