Australian Toys: A Collection

Description

Australian Toys is an illustrated history of Australian manufactured toys from 1900-1965, drawing on the author's authoritative collection. The book documents the production of each toy with beautiful colour photographs accompanied by relevant text about the toy and manufacturer. Luke Jones' carefully structured collection has been assembled with passion and commitment over a period of more than thirty years and is unrivalled for its breadth and quality. It provides an ideal platform to illustrate a history of twentieth century Australian manufactured toys, a history which has yet to be substantially documented in any form. This book will make an important contribution to the recorded history of Australian society, childhood, family and manufacturing.

Luke Jones is an architect by profession and an experienced elite level equestrian competitor in the sport of Eventing; however a life's passion for collecting antique toys preceded both of these pursuits. The first item in his collection was purchased in 1983 when Luke was aged nine. His long term commitment to the subject has led to the assembly of a comprehensive and considered collection of Australian manufactured vintage toys that is without peer. Luke's collecting instinct also extends to Australian furniture and art, including colonial furniture from the Barossa Valley as well as South Australian historical documents and ephemera.