The Military, Civilian figures, equipment and accessories sale held on the 24^th of November featured Modern Issues from Britains, and Del Prado; Contemporary Issues from Thomas Gunn including tanks, submarines and figures; Britains, King and Country, Frontline figures, and others. Civilian Figures, Equipment & Accessories from John Hill, Crescent, Charbens, and Heyde, plus Plastic Figures, Equipment & Accessories from Timpo Swoppets, Lone Star, Foot Knights and more. The sale included military headgear & militaria including flight suits and helmets and military artwork; plus, ship models, Britains Racing Colours, Britains Farm Series, and boxed and unboxed Britains Military Issues. There was an impressive Airfix Archive collection, including hard to find original carded bag examples, boxed vehicle kits, and original artwork. And the sale also included other makers including Lucotte, Dinky, John Ciuffo, plus, Toy Soldier Books, Catalogues & Ephemera and Toy Soldier Display Cases.

The Model Train sale held on the 20^th of November started with OO Gauge British Outline from a Single Owner Collection and other vendors, including Hornby, Bachmann and Oxford Rail, plus Lima, Mainline and others. Further items included HO USA & Continental Outline, N Gauge, Z Gauge and TT Gauge plus Bing Table Top and Hornby Dublo 2- and 3-rail. The sale continued with Wrenn, Triang, Lonestar, OO/HO Kits/Kitbuilt, plus Live Steam and G Gauge. There was a further offering from the Chris Freeman Meccano Collection, plus further Meccano & Other Constructional Toys. The sale concluded with Hornby, Further and Modern O Gauge plus kits/Kitbuilt, Pictures & Prints, Books, Magazines, Display Cabinet and our usual good selection of General Trains.

Why you may ask did I get involved with Matchbox? “Simples”. During one morning’s assembly, my Headmaster held up a Lesney K18 Horse Transporter and relayed to all the school that toys should be kept in “as purchased condition”. I had of course that previous weekend just destroyed that very same model. So, I saved up my next four weeks pocket money and bought another, which I still own. This has led me on an enriching journey establishing lifelong friends, one of nearly 60 years. Jointly, we set up a model shop in Ipswich, hence the collection name. Ipswich Goods Junction was chosen because fate played yet another card. Namely, the signal box name-board laid on the floor, for sale at Collector’s Corner in Euston upon a rare visit.

Having a shop means you always need stock. So unfailingly, each month from the late 1970’s onwards we visited Woolwich Swapmeet. There we met an indoor car-booter! who worked for a leading London Wholesaler. Before you ask, I never enquired which one, but the factory at Hackney was not far away. I was offered every new model and variation that emerged. I simply put each visits booty straight into storage.

This explains two unique aspects of this collection. Firstly, not knowing what I bought means that we did not actively seek those that are obviously missing, but some select rarities from Vectis’s exceptional sales have been subsequently acquired. Secondly, Julian upon appraisal, remarked that “the boxes are stunning”.

I hope that this collection brings you the pleasure that we have been so fortunate to enjoy. And our other collections? – well that is another story.

Ipswich Goods Junction.

Part 2 of the Ipswich Goods Junction Collection was held on the 26th of November at Vectis Auctions.

For more information on this sale please conatct Julian Royse on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Specialist and Tinplate toy sale held on the 19^th of November started with Part 2 of The Argentinian Collection, featuring over 200 lots of Matchbox Regular wheels, plus King Size, Yesteryear and catalogues, the collection included cars and commercials, buses, military, construction and emergency vehicles. Tinplate & Plastic lots included clockwork, friction drive, battery and steam operated models from Mettoy, Bing, Schuco, Tipp & Co, and many others and included vintage Scalextric cars, Britains, Meccano and a very scarce large scale Remote Control Military Jeep. The sale continued with Part 2 of The Mike Linham Fire Engine Collection and a further Private Owner Collection, features construction vehicles, Corgi Aviation archive and Airfix amongst others.