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Idris wrote:John, might I ask how and from whom you acquired this? If it was an Ebay purchase, who was the seller? (We have a pretty good idea who's peddling fakes and who's above board.)

John has been in touch with me, and I can confirm that the model appears to have come from a reputable source.

Very nice finds john and good news that your son is doing better.

zBret

First, an uncut sheet of boxes from the second half of 1969. (It cost more to get it framed than it did to buy it!) Amazingly, this was an Ebay purchase, and I was the only bidder! Second, a 69a colour trial (apologies for the colour balance - it's actually bright orange in real life), with provenance from the Chester Toy Museum, via Paul Carr (yes, him) and Ray Bush, back to the factory. (In order not to play into the hands of fakers, please PM me if you would like further details of this model.)

Well done Idris with both your exciting finds!
numi

Im chuffed to see happy faces with their 2017 finds! Im happy for u all and thanks for keeping up the great collecting spirits
numi

Merry 4th Day of Christmas to the VBD forum participants. 2017 for me has been a year during which a multitude of distractions largely kept vintage Matchbox Toys out of my focus. I added less Matchbox Toys to the shelves this year than any other in recent memory. I will share quick photos of two that did arrive within this calendar year:

My 62B Commer Rentaset van with 10x24 Gray Plastic Wheels-


I already had an A2 Bedford Car Carrier with the red-gray paint scheme but I've been looking for a nice "D" box for this casting for years. Found this one this year.


Happy New Year one and all!

Super nice models Greg.

While you're here, I would like to publicly thank you for all the time and effort you put into the Matchbox Calendars, each and every year. Each one is a joy to look at and that joy rolls along with each new month. Your calendar it the primary printed calendar that we use in our home. I have saved each and every old calendar as they are sure to become a collectors item in their own right.

Happy New Year and we hope you can make it back on a more regular basis.

Greg or Joe, any chance we can see a picture of one of those Calendars.

Ghosthunter.

For me it's going to be this pair of prepro Freeway trailers and an unfoiled Bigbanger all gifted to me by Gary Galvin after the NEC .....can't thank you enough mate

Here's my contribution for this year:




Regular Wheels No.65b Claas Combine Harvester, rare variation with open ladder.
I found this mint one in a shop for old toys in the US. The dealer had two of the models, one with closed and one with open ladder.....




Mercury No. 14 Fiat Abarth 595 SS from 1969.
In November I ordered a real Abarth 595 (the modern version of the above, which will hopefully be delivered in early February!) - and so I started thinking about collecting Abarth toy cars, too.
This Mercury Fiat Abarth came to me within an auction lot of Italian toy cars - so I guess I have now decided to start an Abarth toy car collection....(especially because there were three more Abarth toy cars in the lot!).

Kay