Breyer Animal Collector's Guide: Identification and Values, 3rd Edition

by Felicia Browell, Stephanie Macejko (Foreword by)

The third edition of this popular guide, with over 700 photographs, includes updated value ranges, production dates, descriptions, and other vital information about virtually every Breyer model made from 1950 to mid-2002. Breyer Animal Creations specializes in horses, but they also manufacture dogs, cats, farm animals, and wildlife figures. Collector information on the hobby, the company, sculptor biographies, model production, molds, colors, markings, and condition are discussed in this new book. There are several valuable cross-reference tables and an index to help identify specific models, as well as a section on non-model collectibles like catalogs, magazines, buttons and pins. This third edition is the most up-to-date available. 2003 values.

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Zorak · Rating 4 out of 5]

not much to say. pretty horses.

[Jan Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent for information on Breyer models.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

In childhood, my Barbie dolls tended to have a leg missing. They were never intended to be equestrians, and one leg would snap off when I tried to mount them on my beloved Breyer horses. Stupid dolls! What was the point of their existence, if they couldn't ride?

I received my first Breyer at the age of 4, in 1969 and immediately fell in love. The only 'toys' I wanted were Breyer models and I collected them passionately until real horses stole my time and attention away. I kept the Breyers, though, and moved them across the USA a couple of times during my adult years. When my daughter began to show an interest, I turned my collection over to her. Now we have a common interest that gives us a new bond.

After being out of the hobby for so many years, I have a lot of catching up to do and lots of models to collect. This guide has been so helpful in identifying the various models produced on Breyer molds over the years. The guide only goes to 2007, so it's not complete, but there's enough information online to fill in the gaps over the past thirteen years. An updated version of this book would be wonderful and I hope to purchase one in the future.

The only problem I could find with this book are the values of models, which have changed since this book was published. One thing still remains true, that this is a buyers market and second-hand dealers such as antique stores and online sellers will tend to over-value the models they are selling, so you need to research a particular model (for current prices, the Model Horse Connection website is the best reference). Some models become more valuable over time, and other models see their peak price when new, with prices dropping over the years. For buyers the best prices and widest variety is only found during room sales at the Clarion Hotel during Breyerfest held at the Kentucky Horse Park during mid-July.

Overall, I would agree with expert collectors that this book is the Breyer bible and every collector needs this book.

[Hildegart · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to get an idea of what your Breyer is worth (or what model it is), this is a good resource.