French Foreign Legion, Vintage Toy Soldiers by W. Britain Ltd

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French Foreign Legion, Vintage Toy Soldiers by W. Britain Ltd

About the Item

W. Britain LTD set #1711: "French Foreign Legion, Marching at the Slope, with Mounted Officer (L'Armee Francais: La Legion Etrangere), without the box. The set consists of seven pieces: six troops marching with rifles and bayonets at the slope and dressed in white kepis, blue tunics, red trousers, black belts and boots, and wearing backpacks; and an officer wearing a black kepi with a red top, a blue tunic and red trousers with gold stripes and mounted on a brown horse at the halt. The set was made as a toy for children and was hand-painted in England between 1948 and 1960, thus making each set and each piece unique. The soldiers have accurate and detailed uniforms of the early 20th century. Production of all lead-alloy toys ceased in 1966 in the UK and they have become collectible items for adults. The Foreign Legion, famous for its high morale and "esprit de corps," was created in 1831 by Louis-Philippe, King of the French, as an expeditionary force composed of non-French recruits who wanted to serve in the French armed forces, while its officers and some recruits were French nationals. A traditional path to French citizenship is by being wounded while in service to France. This is a great gift idea for the collector, the history buff, the Francophile, the military enthusiast, the nostalgist, or the interior designer. It looks great on a library shelf, in a bar, den or office. Please contact me directly by clicking the "Contact Dealer" button below for further information, questions, comments or for purchasing and shipping options. I will be happy to chat with you. Thank you for visiting my 1stdibs storefront.

Creator:
W. Britain, LTD (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 2.88 in (7.32 cm)Width: 1.13 in (2.88 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 7
Style:
Campaign (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Lead,Paint,Cast,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
United Kingdom
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1948
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Typical play wear of minor paint chips that is very acceptable. The set is complete and nice, without the box.
Seller Location:
Quechee, VT
Reference Number:
Seller: T209-001-EP1stDibs: LU92863447242