This guide is expertly written & is an essential companion to anyone collecting old toys or wishing to start a collection. It has over 150 beautiful color illustrations, many of which were specially commissioned, & practical advice on main collecting areas, how to avoid expensive mistakes, how to care for old toys, & how to spot the work of the most famous makers. It looks at the most collectible areas within the widely varied categories of toys available, from the more expensive categories such as automata made in 19th century France by such famous makers as Theroude, Decamps, & Lambert to modern day metal soldiers.