Appaloosa FAM Variation #3

As I said recently, I love variations, especially when it comes to the spots on Breyer's Appaloosas.

I saw this small blanket version Appaloosa FAM with spots scattered down her legs on an online sales site  and snapped her up right away.

FAM Speck, #38, 1968-1971, small blanket version w/USA, $22, Kristina Salisbury, 1/2020

She's my third Appaloosa FAM, very white when you consider her age,

 and with moderately large spots all the way down below her hocks. 

I love how she compares to my Appaloosa FAM #2, also a small blanket version, who has huge spots.

 Both of them have the USA mark, making them later than 1970.

 Appaloosa FAM #1 is a belly band version with smaller spots

and no USA mark, making her pre 1970.

 Here #1 is in comparison with #2 - you can really see the differences!

I'm watching some other Appaloosa variations right now - fingers crossed that I will add some more to my collection of variations!

QH Yearling Variation

I saw this chalky- looking QH Yearling on eBay and the spots caught my attention.

QH Yearling, #103, 1971-1988, $8, eBay, raylou1/Corinne Amato

 I love spot variations, especially the large ones.

The white areas are very bright and the coat has a different feel and texture than my other QH Yearlings.

 IYB and Nancy Young's book say the spots are black but I would call them chocolate.

 I prefer the chocolate spot color over the red brown.

Hartland TWH, Breyer Bear Cub, and Norleans Hereford Bull

I went antiquing last Fridayand had good luck in finding pieces to bring home. 

I love the old Hartland woodcuts, and have quite a few of them. But I did not have the TWH in cherry.  Walnut and ebony, yes, but not this beautiful color. Pictures do not do it justice!

Hartland cherry woodcut TWH, $9, 12/27/19, Romney Toy Shop, Romney, Indiana.

 It still has its original footpads, and is in excellent shape with just a few rubs.

 Such a sweet face.

My luck included finding the Norleans Hereford bull. He is going to be given to my sister as a gift since she is grieving the loss of her favorite cow, Tulip, who was also a Hereford.

Norleans china Hereford Bull, $18.50, 12/27/19, Countryside Antiques, Lebanon, IN.

 Looks like an old sales tag is still on his belly - $2.49.

Then I found this early bear cub by Breyer. 

Breyer Bear Cub, #309, dark brown version with pink lip liner, no USA, $10.50, 1967-1971, 12/27/19, Countryside Antiques, Lebanon, IN.

 It has a few rubs on its coat but is in good shape otherwise.

 The cub is the light brown faced version and it has pink lip liner.It has the round Breyer stamp and no USA.

The feet are an odd color and seem to be colored plastic itself and not painted to make them appear brown. I've sent pictures to Sande Schneider and have asked her opinion as to whether or not this might be a piece made from colored plastic.

Like the Hereford, the cub will not be staying with me. I'll sell it or give it to GLC as a donation. But the cherry woodcut TWH has found its new home.

My Second Vintage Club Roman

Last week, I wrote a blog entry about having found lifelong friends through my love of horses and the model horse hobby. Susan Bensema Young is one of those friends.

Sue has been aware of a difficult situation I have been in - in June of 2018 I sold my Vintage Club Roman to Michelle Evans but have had trouble getting payment from her. Since she does not have much, I sold him to her for only $90 and she promised to pay me in two months. I received $10 from her about six months into the deal,  and I am still waiting for my money a year and a half later.

In the meantime, Michelle has attended two BreyerFests, several model shows, and paid Liz Cory for a DW Hagen Renaker! Attempts to work a trade or to have my model sent back to me have failed. ""I should have some money by...." and I am given a date. But that date comes and goes and I receive no money.

 Look what arrived in my mailbox earlier this week.

 Vintage Club Roman, 2018, #712241.

Sue came into possession of a Vintage Club Roman and passed it on to me as a gift.

It even came in its original picture box!

When I'd sold my original Roman, I'd had seller's remorse and regretted selling it. Now I have Roman again in my collection. But better yet, I have experienced the blessing of having such a good friend as Sue.

I have named my Roman "Sue's Friendship."

Two Josef Original Foals

One of the best things about any Great Lakes Congress show is that, not only are entrants selling models and tack from their tables, there is also a dedicated space in the show hall where tables are set up for model horse businesses to use solely for vending!

Last weekend there were at least four vendors in attendance with a great variety of vintage and new models of plastic and china. I was enamored of two Josef Original foals, but at $50/both, the prices were higher than I was willing to pay. When the vendor came down to $35/both (or $17.50 each) that was more reasonable to me.

 This lying down cutie with her original sticker on her side was so sweet and painted beautifully.

 A close up of the sticker.

The underside reminded me a bit of Breyer's chalkies - the paint had that quality to it. And, she had a second sticker labeling her as from Japan.

 Josef Originals have big eyes and this piece was no exception.

You cannot tell very well from the photo, but her eyes are actually tried-toned - eye whites, and then a black pupil painted on an almost-black eye.

 The other piece that I was eyeballing throughout the show was this Josef Original bay standing foal.

 He did not have any stickers, but he, too, was unbroken with just tiny flakes at the tops of his ears.

 He had the tri-eyes but his eye whites were much more prominent.

He also has an interesting whitish spot on his belly where they filled in the pour hole.

I intended to leave them behind but when the vendor offered to make a deal at the end of the day, coming down $15 on the price of both, I accepted.

They join this little guy who I found at an antique shop in 2017. Read about his story here.

Some New Faces - Lightning Ridge and Dominante XXIX

A couple of new pieces have arrived recently to add to my collection.

 I am definitely a vintage girl, but when Breyer released Lightning Ridge, I was smitten.

Lightning Ridge, 1817, $55, 2019 Limited Edition, 3000 made, Lynn Luther, The Model Trading Post.

 He is so pretty - I love the new decorator colors that Breyer has been trying out.

 Dominante XXIX, 1809, $36, 2019 - , Lynn Luther/The Model Trading Post

I also purchased Dominante XXIX, another non vintage mold, because I love Spanish horses.

 I love the dark bay and the shading on this piece.

Found! A Long Wanted Piece

I have wanted Poppy, the Performing Pony by Cybis for a long time. They come up on eBay occasionally and are usually listed at $200. That's more than I wanted to pay for the piece, so I have watched as they have come and gone for several years now.

Last year, one popped up for $149. It sold fairly quickly, and then another was listed for the same price. I have been watching it for months. $149, while better than $200, is still more than I was willing to pay to acquire a Poppy.

 Last week I got an eBay message saying that the seller was willing to accept $99 if any of those watching the auction were interested. Most definitely, I was!

Poppy, the Performing Pony, $99, eBay, 1976-1979, 1000 made, Cybis, Tracy Beachy, Piqua, OH.

And now I have my own Cybis Poppy, safely ensconced in my china cabinet.

Poppy was made 1976 - 1979 and was a limited edition of 1000 according to the Cybis archives.  Mine is #363 and bigger than I'd realized. There are no chips or breaks.

She's a nice addition to my circus horse collection and I am already thinking of taking her to Great Lakes Congress' October show for a special collector's class they are having.