The world's biggest little army: Incredible collection of 250,000 toy soldiers, planes and tanks is set to be sold off for £10,000 after their owner died
Figures, made of lead, metal and plastic, belonged to Carmelo Mazzotta, who died of leukaemia aged 55
Collection, some seen in individual regiments in Bristol garage, believed to be biggest ever to go to auction
Alongside soldiers, set features accessories ranging from miniature forts and weapons to planes and trees

The world's largest collection of toy soldiers is to be auctioned after all 250,000 were found in a British collector's garage.

The quarter-of-a million tiny military people and vehicles belonged to a man who died of leukaemia aged just 55.

Carmelo Mazzotta, of Brislington, Bristol, began collecting toy soldiers as a boy and dedicated his life to them.

The collection, some of which was displayed in their individual regiments in the garage, is understood to be the biggest in the world ever to go to auction.

The figurines are made out of a variety of materials, including lead, metal and plastic.








Alongside the soldiers, the collection features accessories ranging from miniature forts and weapons to trees.

Most of the soldiers stand between one and two inches tall, although some are larger.

As well as the floor space in the double garage, there was also a mezzanine floor - and four shelves wrapped around the side of the garage - filled with the figures.

It took two members of staff from Wessex Auction Rooms nine days to box up the collection.

They took it back to their showroom in Wiltshire ready for a specialist toy sale later this month.

Bosses at the auction house even had to extend the showroom - by clearing out areas currently used for storage - to house and display the vast and unusual collection.

The collection also includes a range of die-cast model planes that were hanging from the garage.

The haul, which is now being catalogued into between 200 and 300 individual lots, is expected to sell for in excess of £10,000 at auction.

Wessex Auction Rooms is a specialist in toys and holds five of the auctions each year. Its toy department is headed up by BBC Bargain Hunt expert Tim Weeks.

Mr Weeks said: 'We believe this is the largest collection of toy soldiers in the UK - and possibly the world - to go to auction.

'This was a lifetime hobby for Mr Mazzotta and, as such, selling it has been an emotional experience for his family.

Auctioneer's estimate
15 GBP - 25 GBP

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Great collection but a bit disturbing how the most prominent flags were Nazi Germany (and one confederate).

Could be the photographer or editor's selection of shots though.

 Sqorgar wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Great collection but a bit disturbing how the most prominent flags were Nazi Germany (and one confederate).

Could be the photographer or editor's selection of shots though.

Can we not accuse people with historical miniatures of being "a bit disturbing" based on the armies they have? That really seems a step too far, especially for a forum which should know better. By that standard, I must be a Nazi because I played the Axis in Dust Tactics, and you know, I probably worship Slaanesh. Also, I find it rather unlikely that a 55 year old British man believed that the South will rise again.

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
The pictures all prominently show nazi flags, not UK, not US, not Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany flags. Of all the historical armies out there, of all the flags in the history of the world, that's what's being shown. Now that might be the editor or photographer's choice, or it may be how the collector set up his collection. I don't know. But it makes for some images I wouldn't want my boss/mom/wife seeing.