Strictly limited set: "The First of the Few" Battle of Britain Set (1990) (1 Viewer)

[Slartibartfast]

New to this forum.
Wondering if anybody is interested in a very rare, striclty limited set of 4 pilots from the "The First of the Few",
Battle of Britain Set made for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain (1990)
Hand-painted with certificate of authenticity, stating that the original moulds have been destroyed. It's numbered and has No. 103 from 1000 sets.

Reproduction from the original pieces designed by Andy C. Neilson.

I have no idea what they're worth, trying to sell them as I found them in a box from a deceased uncle.

Some Info:

"In the 1989-1990 brochure, on the back cover, King & Country first addressed WWII, with the release of "The First of the Few" RAF pilots set (CE1), and the first Warbird, a Spitfire MK 1 . The release intentionally corresponded with the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a reflection of Andy Neilson’s early inkling that addressing World War II during this period could be a lucrative proposition.

Set CE1 included the following RAF pilots: A flight sergeant with his hands in his pocket wearing a blue flight suit, yellow life vest, brown fleece lined boots, a flight helmet and goggles. A flight officer holding a rolled up map, wearing a brown leather jacket and yellow life vest over a blue flight suit, brown fleece lined boots, a flight helmet and goggles. A second flight officer holding a black and white Jack Russel Terrier in his left arm and his helmet under his right arm, wearing a blue flight suit, yellow life vest, and brown fleece lined boots with a map tucked in the right boot. A third flight officer walking with his left hand on his hip, arm akimbo, and a knap sack over his right shoulder, wearing a blue flight suit, yellow life vest, brown fleece lined boots with a map tucked in the left boot, a flight helmet and goggles. The set originally retailed for $51."

i got this information from this thread:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...y"+"the+first+of+the+few"&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&

 

[jazzeum]

Re: Strictly limited set: "The First of the Few" Battle of Britain Set (1990)

It's a great set. I have it. Unless you just want to sell for whatever reason, I'd hang onto it. I happen to have a few multiples of the pilots. It also goes great with the ground crew and the MP and motorcycle made around that time.

 

[Capitolron]

Re: Strictly limited set: "The First of the Few" Battle of Britain Set (1990)

That is extremely valuable set - very expensive on the secondary market - you should hold on to it and wait for the economy to get better - so you can get a better price.

 

[tdubel]

Re: Strictly limited set: "The First of the Few" Battle of Britain Set (1990)

Hi,
sent you an email, I am interested in the set.

Tom

 

[glossman]

Re: Strictly limited set: "The First of the Few" Battle of Britain Set (1990)

*
This is a great set to have.

How many editions of the "The First of the Few" Battle of Britain Set were made by K&C ?

Was there a 1st Edition followed sometime later by another 2nd Edition like in the Arnhem 1944 series ?

Some sets come with the green box and others the Spitfire box, some with Certificate of Authenticity and others with no Certificate.

I see Mr. Churchill with some and not others.

Anyone can help please.

Thanks, Raymond.

*************

 

[Louis Badolato]

Re: Strictly limited set: "The First of the Few" Battle of Britain Set (1990)

*
This is a great set to have.

How many editions of the "The First of the Few" Battle of Britain Set were made by K&C ?

Was there a 1st Edition followed sometime later by another 2nd Edition like in the Arnhem 1944 series ?

Some sets come with the green box and others the Spitfire box, some with Certificate of Authenticity and others with no Certificate.

I see Mr. Churchill with some and not others.

Anyone can help please.

Thanks, Raymond.

*************

Once again, a quote from the Book:

In the 1989-1990 brochure, on the back cover, King & Country first addressed WWII, with the release of "The First of the Few" RAF pilots set (CE1), and the first Warbird, a Spitfire MK 1 . The release intentionally corresponded with the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a reflection of Andy Neilson’s early inkling that addressing World War II during this period could be a lucrative proposition.

Set CE1 included the following RAF pilots: A flight sergeant with his hands in his pocket wearing a blue flight suit, yellow life vest, brown fleece lined boots, a flight helmet and goggles. A flight officer holding a rolled up map, wearing a brown leather jacket and yellow life vest over a blue flight suit, brown fleece lined boots, a flight helmet and goggles. A second flight officer holding a black and white Jack Russell Terrier in his left arm and his helmet under his right arm, wearing a blue flight suit, yellow life vest, and brown fleece lined boots with a map tucked in the right boot. A third flight officer walking with his left hand on his hip, arm akimbo, and a knap sack over his right shoulder, wearing a blue flight suit, yellow life vest, brown fleece lined boots with a map tucked in the left boot, a flight helmet and goggles. The set, a limited edition of 500 in a box with a painting of a Spitfire watching a German plane go down in flames, originally retailed for $51.

The 1991-1992 Post card catalogue indicated that, available in mid-June, 1992, King & Country would release the First 3 Waffen SS sets, the First five LAH sets (with sets 6-8 available by September, 1992), the rest of the "Commemorative Editions", the 9 sets of pilots that go with the warbirds (including a Churchill Figure and a Captain Clark Gable Figure).

In addition to the four RAF pilots described above (CE1), a modern U.S. Jet Fighter Pilot (CE10), a set of four WWI Flying Aces (Mannock, McCudden, Von Richtoven and Immelman) (CE4) and a set of United States Gulf War Marines (CE3) (inexplicably included with the pilots), the Commerative Editions included the following WWII sets: 4 German Luftwaffe Pilots (CE2), a U.S. Marine Corps Pilot (CE5), an American Volunteer Group Flying Tiger Pilot (CE6), a Japanese Kamikaze Pilot (CE7), United States Army Air Force Captain Clark Gable (CE8) and Churchill and the Few (CE9).

Churchill and the Few consisted of a figure of Winston Churchill with the four RAF figures from set CE1. The Churchill figure stands with a cane in his right hand, a newspaper tucked under his right arm, his left arm bent up with his figures in the “v” for victory sign, and a cigar in his mouth. He wears a black hat, black vest and coat, white shirt, bow tie, and gray pants. The set originally retailed for $65.

These same RAF pilot figures were sold individually for $14 per figure, and the buyers choice of one of these figures came with each RAF Warbird purchased up through 1996.

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Re: Strictly limited set: "The First of the Few" Battle of Britain Set (1990)

Once again, a quote from the Book:

In the 1989-1990 brochure, on the back cover, King & Country first addressed WWII, with the release of "The First of the Few" RAF pilots set (CE1), and the first Warbird, a Spitfire MK 1 . The release intentionally corresponded with the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a reflection of Andy Neilson’s early inkling that addressing World War II during this period could be a lucrative proposition.

Set CE1 included the following RAF pilots: A flight sergeant with his hands in his pocket wearing a blue flight suit, yellow life vest, brown fleece lined boots, a flight helmet and goggles. A flight officer holding a rolled up map, wearing a brown leather jacket and yellow life vest over a blue flight suit, brown fleece lined boots, a flight helmet and goggles. A second flight officer holding a black and white Jack Russell Terrier in his left arm and his helmet under his right arm, wearing a blue flight suit, yellow life vest, and brown fleece lined boots with a map tucked in the right boot. A third flight officer walking with his left hand on his hip, arm akimbo, and a knap sack over his right shoulder, wearing a blue flight suit, yellow life vest, brown fleece lined boots with a map tucked in the left boot, a flight helmet and goggles. The set, a limited edition of 500 in a box with a painting of a Spitfire watching a German plane go down in flames, originally retailed for $51.

The 1991-1992 Post card catalogue indicated that, available in mid-June, 1992, King & Country would release the First 3 Waffen SS sets, the First five LAH sets (with sets 6-8 available by September, 1992), the rest of the "Commemorative Editions", the 9 sets of pilots that go with the warbirds (including a Churchill Figure and a Captain Clark Gable Figure).

In addition to the four RAF pilots described above (CE1), a modern U.S. Jet Fighter Pilot (CE10), a set of four WWI Flying Aces (Mannock, McCudden, Von Richtoven and Immelman) (CE4) and a set of United States Gulf War Marines (CE3) (inexplicably included with the pilots), the Commerative Editions included the following WWII sets: 4 German Luftwaffe Pilots (CE2), a U.S. Marine Corps Pilot (CE5), an American Volunteer Group Flying Tiger Pilot (CE6), a Japanese Kamikaze Pilot (CE7), United States Army Air Force Captain Clark Gable (CE8) and Churchill and the Few (CE9).

Churchill and the Few consisted of a figure of Winston Churchill with the four RAF figures from set CE1. The Churchill figure stands with a cane in his right hand, a newspaper tucked under his right arm, his left arm bent up with his figures in the “v” for victory sign, and a cigar in his mouth. He wears a black hat, black vest and coat, white shirt, bow tie, and gray pants. The set originally retailed for $65.

These same RAF pilot figures were sold individually for $14 per figure, and the buyers choice of one of these figures came with each RAF Warbird purchased up through 1996.

Louis, I'm sending you an email...

 

[Louis Badolato]

Re: Strictly limited set: "The First of the Few" Battle of Britain Set (1990)

So are these the same pieces I just bought?

That's CE9, Churchill and the Few.

 

[glossman]

Re: Strictly limited set: "The First of the Few" Battle of Britain Set (1990)

Once again, a quote from the Book:

In the 1989-1990 brochure, on the back cover, King & Country first addressed WWII, with the release of "The First of the Few" RAF pilots set (CE1), and the first Warbird, a Spitfire MK 1 . The release intentionally corresponded with the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a reflection of Andy Neilson’s early inkling that addressing World War II during this period could be a lucrative proposition.

Set CE1 included the following RAF pilots: A flight sergeant with his hands in his pocket wearing a blue flight suit, yellow life vest, brown fleece lined boots, a flight helmet and goggles. A flight officer holding a rolled up map, wearing a brown leather jacket and yellow life vest over a blue flight suit, brown fleece lined boots, a flight helmet and goggles. A second flight officer holding a black and white Jack Russell Terrier in his left arm and his helmet under his right arm, wearing a blue flight suit, yellow life vest, and brown fleece lined boots with a map tucked in the right boot. A third flight officer walking with his left hand on his hip, arm akimbo, and a knap sack over his right shoulder, wearing a blue flight suit, yellow life vest, brown fleece lined boots with a map tucked in the left boot, a flight helmet and goggles. The set, a limited edition of 500 in a box with a painting of a Spitfire watching a German plane go down in flames, originally retailed for $51.

The 1991-1992 Post card catalogue indicated that, available in mid-June, 1992, King & Country would release the First 3 Waffen SS sets, the First five LAH sets (with sets 6-8 available by September, 1992), the rest of the "Commemorative Editions", the 9 sets of pilots that go with the warbirds (including a Churchill Figure and a Captain Clark Gable Figure).

In addition to the four RAF pilots described above (CE1), a modern U.S. Jet Fighter Pilot (CE10), a set of four WWI Flying Aces (Mannock, McCudden, Von Richtoven and Immelman) (CE4) and a set of United States Gulf War Marines (CE3) (inexplicably included with the pilots), the Commerative Editions included the following WWII sets: 4 German Luftwaffe Pilots (CE2), a U.S. Marine Corps Pilot (CE5), an American Volunteer Group Flying Tiger Pilot (CE6), a Japanese Kamikaze Pilot (CE7), United States Army Air Force Captain Clark Gable (CE8) and Churchill and the Few (CE9).

Churchill and the Few consisted of a figure of Winston Churchill with the four RAF figures from set CE1. The Churchill figure stands with a cane in his right hand, a newspaper tucked under his right arm, his left arm bent up with his figures in the “v” for victory sign, and a cigar in his mouth. He wears a black hat, black vest and coat, white shirt, bow tie, and gray pants. The set originally retailed for $65.

These same RAF pilot figures were sold individually for $14 per figure, and the buyers choice of one of these figures came with each RAF Warbird purchased up through 1996.

Louis,

If I had Volumes I & III, I would be saving you a lot of trouble.

Thanks very much for the information.

Happy Easter, Raymond.

******************

 

[Louis Badolato]

Re: Strictly limited set: "The First of the Few" Battle of Britain Set (1990)

Louis,

If I had Volumes I & III, I would be saving you a lot of trouble.

Thanks very much for the information.

Happy Easter, Raymond.

******************

Happy Easter to you too . . . you know, I get none of the proceeds from the book, the authors' share of the sales all goes to reimburse Kevin for the travel expenses he had coming to New York to do the photography. So buy the books and help Kevin get out of trouble with his missus!