King & Country
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- Joined
- May 23, 2005
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KING & COUNTRY DISPATCHES
October 2023
October 2023
Hi Guys,
By the time you read this I should already be back in Hong Kong after my U.S. visit to the all-new ‘CHICAGOLAND Toy Soldier Show’ which has taken the place of the long-established but sadly now- cancelled ‘Chicago Toy Soldier Show’.
In addition, on this trip I will have visited San Antonio and our own ‘KING & COUNTRY TEXAS’ store.
Here in Hong Kong recently we have also survived, relatively unscathed, a major Typhoon followed, a week later, by the heaviest rainfall in the former Colony’s history since records began in 1884!
So, lots has been going on but somehow, through all of that, K&C has still managed to bring out a few bits and pieces that I hope collectors and dealers will appreciate… Let’s get on with the show….
1. BEING RELEASED THIS MONTH
A. LIFE & DEATH ON THE NILE
Following up on the success and popularity of our ‘Tutankhamun’ related figures set in the years following the discovery of the young pharaoh’s tomb we are releasing a choice selection of some other characters with interesting stories to tell that add more than a touch of colour to this ‘Ancient Egyptian’ series.
AE102 ‘Signor Ferrari’
For the classic movie fans among us here is one of the supporting characters from the great ‘CASABLANCA’ starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman… ‘Signor Ferrari’.
Ferrari , in the film is a bar-owning competitor of Bogart’s ‘Rick Blaine’ with a decidedly murky background involving all kinds of black market activity in Vichy-controlled Casablanca in what was then French Morocco.
I like to imagine he might also have been in prewar Egypt wheeling and dealing in all kinds of illegal activities including selling-off stolen Ancient Egyptian antiquities to rich American and European visitors.
In the ‘Casablanca’ film ‘Signor Ferrari’ was played by the British actor Sydney Greenstreet well known for his villainous roles.
AE103 ‘Death On The Nile’ Duo
‘Death On The Nile’ was and is one of Agatha Christie’s most famous mystery novels and first published in 1937. It features, of course, one of Christie’s favourite characters, Hercule Poirot , the famous Belgian detective.
In the 1978 movie version, Poirot was played by the very talented Peter Ustinov , an actor, director, author and great wit.
This is K&C’s third interpretation of Hercule Poirot and is closely based on Ustinov’s own interpretation of the detective and his distinctive looks.
Accompanying Poirot is a formidable lady, Mrs. Marie Van Schuyler played by the equally formidable Bette Davis.
Both figures would most definitely want to visit Tutankhamun’s Tomb to inspect for themselves the many treasures and relics it holds as well perhaps as a few of its mysteries.
AE105 ‘The Abduls’ (2 x figure set)
After the discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb enterprising Egyptians opened a number of hotels and restaurants nearby to cater for the needs and requirements of the many foreign visitors who flocked to view the burial site.
Here is a father and son combination delivering some refreshments for the foreign visitors. Both are wearing traditional servants costume of the kind that could be found throughout Egypt and North Africa during the 1920s, ‘30s and even into the 1940s and ‘50s.
Available: Early October
