Trivia: Malcolm Fobes toy soldier collection (1 Viewer)

[dragon53]

(For those who do not read the Movie/TV News)


TRIVIA---more James Bond movie trivia.
In THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, Timothy Dalton's first James Bond movie, the villa of Bond Villain Brad Whitaker (Joe Don Baker) was really the Forbes Museum in Tangier, Morocco that was founded by billionaire Malcolm Forbes. Forbes housed his collection of 115,000 toy soldiers from historic battles ranging from Waterloo to Dien Bien Phu.
After Forbes's death, the property was sold to Morocco. 60,000 pieces of the collection were auctioned off by Christie's for $700,000. Other pieces of the collection are in the Forbes Galleries in New York.

 

[theBaron]

I first learned about Forbes' collection and museum from an article in Smithsonian, though I didn't collect toy soldiers at the time. I still have that issue, as well as the book, "Toy Armies", by Peter Johnson, co-curator of the collection with his wife. He used examples from the collection to illustrate the various chapters of toy soldier history.

And now, the collection is scattered to the four winds, somewhat.

Prost!
Brad

 

[tdubel]

More trivia - The dioramas in the movies were made by Peter Davis of Little Lead Soldiers UK using 25mm Greenwood and Ball figures.

 

[Louis Badolato]

More trivia - The dioramas in the movies were made by Peter Davis of Little Lead Soldiers UK using 25mm Greenwood and Ball figures.

Tom,

Several of Peter Davis’ 25mm dioramas ended up in the collection of our mutual friend Mark Hoffman, one of the sponsors of the New York Symposium.

 

[Terp152]

115,000 TS! I have a ways to go. {sm3} I did see a 10,000 TS collection, or a least part of one, in a Louisville museum. Chris

 

[theBaron]

Some of the collection was auctioned off in 1997, some 60,000 pieces. Some of the rest of the collection is now on display at Forbes Magazine's offices in New York City.
His toy collection was auctioned off 10 years ago.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Alexander the Great]

I was always intrigued as to why Mr. Forbes chose Morocco...any ideas?

 

[theBaron]

I was always intrigued as to why Mr. Forbes chose Morocco...any ideas?

According to the article in Smithsonian (April 1980), "Forbes had bought it on the occasion of launching an Arab-language edition of his magazine." The Palais Mendoub is the former home of the Sultan's representative in Tangier. Forbes decided it was a good location for a museum featuring his collection of toys.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Alexander the Great]

According to the article in Smithsonian (April 1980), "Forbes had bought it on the occasion of launching an Arab-language edition of his magazine." The Palais Mendoub is the former home of the Sultan's representative in Tangier. Forbes decided it was a good location for a museum featuring his collection of toys.

Prost!
Brad

Very interesting thank you!

 

[theBaron]

I'm sorry I don't have any way to scan the article and post it here for you and everyone. It's an interesting item to have in any collection of toy soldier references.

Prost!
Brad

 

[tdubel]

Tom,

Several of Peter Davis’ 25mm dioramas ended up in the collection of our mutual friend Mark Hoffman, one of the sponsors of the New York Symposium.

Yup, I also have a few!! One is the large Vicksburg Bridge Diorama. Zach has a few too including a Dodge City Dio. There is a Zulu War Rorkes Drift in my storage unit along with another Alamo Type one.

Fascinating work.
Tom

 

[blaster]

I have a book which features the Forbes Collection " Toy Soldiers- A century of international miniatures" by Richard Scholl. Courage Books 2004. This gives some insight into the collection.

Rgds Victor