Toy soldiers are to boys what dolls are to girls. But toy soldiers similar to dolls can be just as magical for adults. Whether its an 18th century English brigade, wild Vikings, vagabond revolutionary soldiers, or General Lee on his steed, most men recall playing with toy soldiers as a kid. Colorful uniforms and classic poses can give a real life feel to military history.

Collectors frequently focus on European or American toys from the 19th or early 20th centuries. They range in size from 1 ¼ inches to 2 ¼ inches tall and made from tin or lead. You can find collectable soldiers in wood or plaster, but metal military soldiers are the most collected and most valuable. Condition is one of the most important determinants of value. Mint-in-box will be the most valuable.

Some of the most favorite metal cast figures were developed in England by William Britain beginning in 1893. These hollow cast figures were produced in large quantities with numerous poses. They are not that hard to find today and they can be identified by the mark on the underside with the word Britain.

Two of the most popular American manufacturers were McLoughlin Brothers of New York and Barclay Manufacturing of New Jersey. These soldiers were larger than the English at about 3 ½ inches tall.

There also started in the middle 20th century connoisseur-type military figures. These were never intended to be toys and involved painstaking research and artistic faithfulness and talent to produce. Today the range of new figures is daunting, running the gamut from detailed military figures and dioramas to miniature metal fantasy figures, like orcs and goblins.