Historical Miniatures Chiang Kai-Shek

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We are showing one more of Andreas’ unknown figures. In his comments he listed it as 70mm figure hard plastic possible Italian. I immediately recognized it as I had one many years ago.  It is a Historical Miniatures Chiang Kai-shek.  This was a small Dime Store company that did various lead figures including historical figures of  Churchill and Lincoln.  Checking Collecting Toy Soldiers by Richard O’Brien (Page 207 in the second edition and page 255 of the third edition), Historical Miniatures did their figures in metal and composition.  These figures are extremely hard to find in lead or composition, if it is in plastic as Andreas has stated this would be a major find and mystery. We will keep you posted.

Update: We have received word from a party that the Chiang Kai-shek figure is from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taiwan.  The hall is dedicated to the memory of Chiang Kai-shek. The figure is sold in metal and plastic. You can  tell the difference on the metal figure  from the Historical Miniatures. as it has Chinese markings on the bottom of the base.  The plastic figure also has Chinese markings on the bottom.

I asked Andreas how  he got the figure. He said he got the figure at Bad Nauheim.  This toy soldier show is held once a year in October or November Bad Nauheim, Germany.  The show is almost exclusive composition, but does sell 70mm Elastolin plastic figures. He paid one euro for the figure from a collector from Italy. Most experts who he consulted said that the figure looked like an Italian officer of their African/Ethiopian campaign. This was likely because of the tropical hat he has in his hand.  

This is an easy mistake to make, when I first got my historical Miniatures figure I thought he was a British officer. Chiang Kai-shek dress this way as photos will show.  I am glad we solved this mystery on to the next one.