The Specialist sale held on the 11^th of January featured no fewer than seven private owner collections. The Forest Collection included boxed and unboxed Dinky models, Corgi, including rare issues and Gift sets and TV Related items. The Northumberland Collection featured Triang Spot-on plus Dinky and Corgi and further Corgi models were included in The Hebburn Collection. The Jaguar Collection featured a range of Dinky 219 Jaguar models and The Tees Valley Collection Part 2 included Harry Potter memorabilia, including Lego sets and diecast vehicles, further TV & Film related models, Dinky, Triang Minic, Britains, French Dinky military models, Corgi, Matchbox Superfast and Regular Wheels and Trains. Part 3 of The Devonshire Collection included further Corgi and Dinky models, Corgi Whizzwheels, Dinky aircraft, plus Hot Wheels and Triang Spot on. The final collection was a Dinky Ex-Shop Stock Collection.

THE CALIFORNIA EARLY MOKO LESNEY COLLECTION

I came from a home where my parents were collectors, who back in the 70s travelled every weekend within 100 miles to auctions and antique shops in hopes in findings some treasures. And yes, I went on many of those trips with them. It did not take long to see that I was a born collector as, at the ripe old age of 8, I did not play with my toys or trade my baseball cards away.

At that time, I was putting the best of what I had, away in shoeboxes to keep them in the best condition possible and away from my friends? grubby hands. Over the years I have collected Baseball cards, stamps, coins, Cracker Jack prizes, Tiffany Studios and Vintage Louis Vuitton trunks. But my favourite and my first love goes back to 1966 at 8 years old when I got my first taste of Lesney/ Moko/ Matchbox cars and trucks. For the next 4 years the joy of obtaining all the new models as they came out was just pure joy to me growing up. As all my friends were re-enacting the world's biggest auto wrecks with their pieces, I was placing mine in my pristine Matchbox cases. My friends were baffled and just wanted to know why I did not play with them. Fast forward 50 years later, and I still have all my original Matchbox toys sitting in the original cases for me to enjoy and remember my wonderful magical childhood and all the smiles they still give me. Then came the 90?s, I still have the bug in me, now in my 30?s a bit older and wiser and some money in the bank, I set out to get the brass ring. I was after the grand prize, the infamous Early Lesney and Early Moko models. I not only wanted to see how many I could find but I desired to have all the different variations and the finest models I could find. So now here we are, I am now 64 and have put together one of the finest Early Lesney/ Moko collections you can find. I absolutely loved with a passion, putting this collection together. Now it is time to pass it along to all the others around our globe, to those who also share the passion and want to own some very rare pieces and finest known examples.

The General Toy sale to be held on the 16^th of December includes a large number of group lots from Mattel Hot Wheels, Matchbox Models of Yesteryear, Corgi, Solido, EFE, Lledo, Brumm, Vanguards and many more. Corgi lots include Original Omnibus, Classics, and Heavy Haulage. The sale will also include Creative Master Northcord, 1/18^th scale cars from Kyosho, Maisto and Autoart, and 1/43^rd scale from Minichamps. Further items in the sale include Britains Deetail Series, Airfix and other kits, books, magazines, annuals, vinyl records, pottery, electronic games and a number of interesting unsorted pallets of mixed soft and early learning toys.

The Model Train sale held on the 17^th of December started with OO Gauge British Outline from Hornby, Bachmann, Lima, and others, including ex shop stock. Further items included HO Continental & American Outline, N Gauge and Narrow Gauge. Plus, Hornby Dublo 2 & 3-rail, Wrenn Railways, Triang and HO Brass. The sale continued with an unusual OO Gauge European Tinplate Model Railway, OO Gauge Kit/Kitbuilt, Meccano & Other Constructional Toys plus, Live Steam and Gauge 1 & Larger. The sale concluded with a Single Owner Collection, Hornby, Further, Modern O Gauge and O Gauge Kit/Kitbuilt, plus Railwayana, Pictures & Prints, Books, Magazines, Catalogues, Boats & Boat Kits and our usual good selection of General Trains.

The Matchbox Sale held on the 15th of December featured a large collection of Superfast and Regular Wheels models, which included single and group lots of road and racing cars, emergency and other vehicles. The sale included many colour variations and groups in early issue transitional boxes. Plus Super Kings, Battle Kings, shop displays, point of sales and badges. The sale also included a large collection of Early Lesney toys including large scale Aveling Barford, Site mixers, caterpillar tractors and bulldozers. Early Moko Lesney horse drawn carts, Massey Harris tractors, coronation coaches, clockwork novelty toys, drummer boys and others.