Vintage Toy Soldiers
Toy soldiers have been collected since the time of the Pharaohs. First made from wood, stone, clay and metal for the rich and royal, it wasn’t until the end of the 18th century that toy figures – or military miniatures – were first mass-produced.
By the turn of the 20th century, several companies in Europe were producing inexpensive lead toy soldiers which began to catch on with children and adults alike. About 2-2 ¼ inches tall, these “little men”, produced by Britain’s, Heyde, Mignot and others, depicted armies of England, America, France, Germany and their opponents.
Because lead and plastic soldiers were so widely available, many baby-boomers grew up collecting both. Their closets and shelves were filled with shoeboxes full of painted and unpainted soldiers.
Listed below is a large selection of Vintage Toy Soldiers and accessories for sale.
