Illuminati

Illuminati just joined me, twelve years after it was produced.

Illuminati, #710006, 2006 Halloween Horse, illuminated, $37, 9/2018, eBay, Ashley Anderson, Pullman, WA.

I wish the pumpkins were happy ones, but this is a vintage mold and vintages are the heart of my collection, so I found one at a reasonably price and bought it.

Nevermore - Halloween Horse #4

I don't really collect Breyer's Halloween Horses - some of them have been a bit scary, in my opinion, whereas I like the happy and fun aspects of the holiday. But I did buy this year's Halloween Horse because it is a connection to classic literature.

Meet Nevermore!

 Nevermore, #1800, 2018 Breyer Halloween Horse, 3,000 made, $55, 9/2018, Lynn Anderson/The Model Trading Post.

With my love of classic literature, and having taught it for the past twelve years in my classroom, how could I resist a model based on Edgar Allen Poe's famous poem, The Raven?

I did resist for a few months after it was announced as I dislike the mold, but in the end I knew I would kick myself for having missed it due to its tie-in to classic literature.

The paint job is lovely - I like the mauve color and the pearly mane and tail. Breyer did  beautiful job on this piece!

Wedgewood Running Mare

Another product of the post- BreyerFest effect is this wedgewood Running Mare.

Running Mare, #4120, 1963-1964, $565 (included $15 postage), 9/2018, eBay, Zana Goulding, Spokane, WA. (Selling a friend's collection.)

 Wedgewood is my favorite decorator color, and she has gorgeous shading.

 Some of them are an allover flat blue color with no shading. I don't care for those.

She's very white, especially for her age, and she is nearly flawless. I cannot believe I got her so cheaply.

Gold Charm Running Mare

After BreyerFest, the prices on models go down as everyone tries to sell models in order to recoup what they spent at the event. This means people are more willing to make a deal rather than wait for someone willing to pay a higher price to come along, and as a result, you can get some real bargains.

Like this Gold Charm Running Mare!

 Gold Charm Running Mare, #3120, 1963-1964, $550 (includes $15 shipping), 9/2018. eBay, Zana Goulding, Spokane, WA. (Selling for a friend of hers.)

 The mare has some black marks, tiny scratches, and small rubs, but for a piece that is 55 years old, and for that price, I am delighted to have found her!

I also bought her herd mate - I wonder how long these two have been together?

Models from Roxie Fiste

Ronda Mosley found a 2,000+ piece collection for sale last week and was kind enough to look for pieces for several people, including me. It was an amazing collection, and I found several pieces I have wanted a while.

 Collector's Unicorn, JC Penner SR 1984, no number, $50, 9/8/2018,  Roxie Fiste (via Ronda Mosley), Vandalia, OH.

 He is beautifully white and with no yellowing of the glue or chunks out of the flocking. Amazing for a 34 year old model!

Allison Pareis had a clearwater piece in her own collection that I bought.

 Navya, #711277, $30, BreyerFest 2017 Store Special, 9/8/2018.

 Spirit of the East, #710294, 1994 JCP SR, $25/set, 9/8/2018,  Roxie Fiste (via Ronda Mosley), Vandalia, OH.

I thought this was actually the original Breyer mare and foal in alabaster until I saw them in person.

 The foal has pretty pinking in her ears and on her nose.

 Spirit of the East, #710294, 1994 JCP SR, $25/set, 9/8/2018,  Roxie Fiste (via Ronda Mosley), Vandalia, OH.

 The mare has lovely shading and grey "eyeliner" around her eyes.

 Another piece I thought I had bought was Laag, the 1996 Commemoratve Edition of 10,000.

But this isn't Laag, it's even better! It is Before the Wind, #701797, a Toys R Us special run (7,500) from 1997!

 I did not have my ID books with me when I got him from Ronda, but with that black stripe on the mane, back, and tail, I knew I had something else.  I am really happy to have him!

 My new model is numbered 3,755 out of 7,500 on the belly.

This piece has a bit of mystery and I'll need to do some research, but his hatband is supposed to be painted red - his has not been painted.

Old Time, $206, $21, 1988 - 1990,  9/8/2018,  Roxie Fiste (via Ronda Mosley), Vandalia, OH.

Born to Run

I love, love, love Breyer's clearware (or translucents as they are sometimes called.) BreyerFest had one this year, and Liz Cory offered to get me whatever I wanted. But she was using a cane and I had three other pieces I wanted more, so I limited myself to them, thinking that I would get Born to Run on the second hand market.

A week after BreyerFest, Liz sent me a message saying that Breyer was putting its leftover BreyerFest pieces on sale up on the web site for ticket holders and asked if I wanted anything.

I did. And she got it for me!

 Born to Run, #711293, $30, BreyerFest 2018 SR, 1,500 produced.

Photos credit to Identify Your Breyer.

Thank you, Liz!!

Big Spot FAM

I love the Breyer vintage molds, and recently have been interested in collecting variations, especially on their vintage Appaloosa paint jobs. So, as you might imagine, when I saw this girl for sale at Great Lakes Congress, I did a double take and then made a beeline to where she was displayed on Liz Cory's sales table.

Those spots are huge!!

Family Arabian Mare, Speck, #38, 1968-1971, $75, Liz Cory. 

 Liz came over and offered her to me for a price that I felt was quite reasonable (even generous), so I bought her then and there.

 I already had this piece in glossy (my new one is matte) but I could not remember if the spots on it were normal sized or tiny (I knew that they were not ginormous like these), so I pulled her out when I arrived home from the show.

 She is a lovely tiny spot version! 

 What a comparison - just look at them together!

The collector in me is all over these two. I just keep looking at them, comparing them, and practically jumping for joy as I sit here at my desk typing.

Model horsedom has many different facets to it. Some people buy models for showing, others use them to showcase their creative sides and paint, sculpt, and make tack.  Then there are collectors like me who get giddy over something like big spots.

Those collectors like me know exactly what I mean!