An Unexpected Christmas Gift from Ian Dury

   I took a week's vacation to keep an eye on my wife; this being the first Christmas that she wasn't able to spend with her mother, after her mother's passing. We have been keeping busy cleaning years of junk from the basement. 

   We returned from a dump run, and checking the mail, found a small package from England. As I haven't bought anything from overseas in several months, I was somewhat confused. However, reading the return address found that it was from Ian Dury, who for the last several years always sends me a Christmas card.

   Once inside, I found his Christmas card (by the way, the BEST Christmas card we got this year), and two Peter Laing "coach outriders" from the Queen Victoria's coach.  In my post about buying the lot that I got the coach in, I mentioned that there was two lots that had Peter Laing Victorian Parade figures, but that I  could only afford one. I chose the lot with infantry and bands. It turned out that Ian won the other lot; which is good to know. Ian is one person who seems to know Peter Laing figures and have answered most of my questions about the figures.

   Ian told me that they were figures that he would never use them, as his coach belongs to the Emperor Wilhelm I! I am hoping they will inspire me to get out the Victorian figures and get a game in soon.

   Once again, I wish to thank Ian for his kindness. I wonder how many other hobbies have such generous members.  Hopefully I can  do the same for him, or other members of the hobby.

The coach with the new outriders. By the way, the "new" blog  page generator is terrible, especially for posting the photographs. They never appear in the order I want them in.

The Outriders, generously given to me by Ian. By the way, this was to be the first picture.

Massachusetts Militia Cards: Part 5

   As every Christmas, my wife asked what I wanted for Christmas.  Instead of my normal "nothing", I asked for cigarette cards. After a brief description, she simply gave me the "you're crazy!" look and said  ok. I ordered several lots that consisted of Massachusetts militia uniforms. I also ordered several pages of card holders, so I can finally take them out of the old box that I've lost several times. There are several duplicates, but at least I have all the Massachusetts cards that I know of.  I have posted below the collection of Massachusetts  cards, even ones I have shown before.

Johillco 35mm Coronation Toy Soldiers

      I recently bought two lots of toy soldiers, one of infantry and one of cavalry. Both lots had 54mm Britain's figures, along with many smaller figures. Quickly looking at them, I was hoping that the smaller figures were Britain's B series figures.  Both lots were "Buy it now", and the price was ridiculously low, so I bought them.

  After buying them, I looked at the photographs of the lots and realized the smaller figures were more around 30mm, and not 40mm.

  I received them a couple of days ago, and just managed to have a look at them. A little research has led me to believe they are Johillco Coronation figures. The cavalry figures will come in handy; the infantry, Beefeaters and coachmen will take some imagination to use.

The Britain's 54mm cavalry figures. They will go into a box with other 54mm figures that I don't use.

The 54mm Britain's infantry.

A 30mm SAE Guards officer on the left, a Johillco officer on right.

A Johillco Guard on the left; a 30mm SAE Guard in the center; a Britain's 40mm Series B Fusilier on the right.

A SAE 30mm Cavalryman; A Johillco Cavalryman, and a gilt Cavalryman. 

The Johillco Guards.

The coachmen and Beefeaters.

Johillco Cavalry

Johillco General

Militia Cigarette Cards: Part 4

       With my most recent posts about militia uniforms illustrated on cigarette cards, I found myself looking for more.  I bought 10 more, all of Massachusetts militia uniforms. As I bought two sets, I got several duplicates.  A am going to try to collect at least as many Massachusetts cards as I can.