Dolls, toys & games - Hilary Kay

These four pocket guides are portable treasure troves of information for collectors, bargain hunters, junk shop browsers and even dealers. Small and concise for easy reference, they also contain full colour pictures and detailed drawings which will take the guesswork out of buying, bidding and bargaining at auctions, and also add to the enjoyment of this task.;"The Antiques Roadshow Pocket Guide: Dolls, Toys & Games" is logically organized into short chapters to allow instant access to every stage of collecting. It provides an essential history of dolls, toys and games by way of introduction and then tackles the three subjects individually. It shows you how to identify dolls. It also helps the reader to differentiate between wooden, wax and bisque, and to examine their clothes and furniture. The guide includes sections on bears and other animal figures, as well as toy figures, such as soldiers, spacemen and robots. In the games section, all types of automata are featured, together with vehicles such as trains, model cars, motor cycles and boats.;Each of the four pocket guides contains a checklist of points to watch when judging between original condition and bodged renovation. There is also an informative section on the care, maintenance and insurance of your toys and games; while the useful glossary of terms uncovers the meaning behind the language that antique dealers use!