Contained within this authoritative text is the exciting history of the
manufacture of toy forts and castles in western Europe throughout the
turbulent nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Lavishly illustrated with
nearly 800 images, this book provides detailed information on who made
these castles, palaces, and fortresses, when, where, and how, and with
what materials. The author focuses especially on manufacturers in
Germany and Great Britain, but covers Denmark, Belgium, and France as
well--and describes the fascinating story of the industry's rise and
demise. Company histories show how these manufacturers, often successive
generations of families, dealt with the enormous economic and political
obstacles of the times. Organized spreadsheets with serial numbers,
dates, dimensions, and distinctive features of products will satisfy the
curiosities of toy collectors, museum curators, archivists, antique
dealers, architectural history buffs, and more.