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Toy Soldier Collector The East of India Co. Various Figures

The East of India Co. Various Figures

Review taken from 'New Releases'

East of India has been in touch with us again with details of some striking forthcoming releases for two of its big ranges.

Firstly are the French Foreign Legion officers, and French Marine Infantry, which have been added to the popular Colonial Collection (c.1900). The Marine infantry had three battalions fighting in China during the Boxer Rebellion. These figures are depicted wearing summer uniform which consisted of a tropical helmet (white with a blue denim cover) together with a single breasted tunic fastened with five copper buttons and blue trousers. The gaiters worn were of white canvass and on the helmet there was a copper anchor badge.

These figures are shown with Lebel rifle equipment and belts, all in black leather. When not wearing a full pack, a dark grey blanket roll was worn together with other necessities as shown on the figures. The figures represent men from the 1st Battalion, 9th regiment of Marine Infantry. This battalion arrived in Peking from Hanoi along with 13th Battery of the Indo-China Artillery Regiment which had six 80mm mountain guns.

The officers are French Foreign Legion from the same period, and again are dressed in tropical attire. The two officers are a Lt. Colonel with binoculars and a Captain firing his revolver.

All the figures in these new sets are to the East of India’s usual exacting standards and should appeal to any collector of matt figures from this era. Prices for these new sets are as follows: (CCF501) FFL Lt. Colonel with binoculars and Captain with revolver $50/£32, (CCF502) French Marine Infantry firing line, six figures $150/£96, (CCF503) French Marine Infantry Support, three figures $75/£48.

The second batch of new additions from the company are from their Ancients series. These three new sets all feature Persian heavy horsemen, and are all members of Cyrus the Younger’s bodyguard. The clothing on each figure shows several Greek influences, the bronze helmet is decorated with a plume made of horsehair, and they are wearing linen jackets reinforced with bronze plates, just like the Greek cuirass.

The horses come from the Medic plains and are thick-set and strong. The chest and head of each was protected by a bronze plate. As the horsemen would have had a variety of weapons, from javelins for the initial attack to, probably, a Greek short sword or axe as a secondary weapon, it’s no surprise to see East of India giving each figure a different one of these weapons.

As with the French Marine Infantry these new Persian Cavalry are well-sculpted, beautifully painted and no doubt will become welcome additions to collectors who have already bought the earlier releases by this company for this period. Prices for these sets are as follows: (ACPC1) Persian Heavy Cavalry charging with axe $65/£42, (ACPC2) Persian Heavy Cavalry at the ready with Javelins $65/£42, and (ACPC3) Persian Heavy Cavalry attacking the Phalanx $94/£60.

Date Published Mon, 10/01/2007 - 13:08
Author: Rob Hendrie

Contact
The East of India Company
25th Floor, Unit A
Gee Chang Hong Centre
65 Wong Chuk Hang Road
Aberdeen
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 9192 7833
www.eastofindia.com

In the UK:
Maison Militaire
39 Bar Street
Scarborough
North Yorkshire
YO11 2HT

Tel: 01723 362257
www.maisonmilitaire.com

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