Matchbox Die Cast Cars found at the attic

It was a cloudy and rainy day, when i decided to go to our attic and open a few untouched boxes that were stalked together gathering dust.

There were die cast toy cars , books ,school supplies and fashion accessories which are left untouched over several years or even decades!

While opening few boxes, I saw a plastic Matchbox carry case opened to reveal memories and nostalgia over these die-cast toy cars.

matchbox die-cast cars 1:60 

It was like unboxing of some sort which revealed some stories.  There were 27 die-cast cars – 21 were by matchbox manufactured between 1968 to 1972 and another 3 matchbox made between 1979 to 1984 from Macau, China.

Top- Volkswagen ( Matchbox circa 1972 ) Below -Volkswagen ( Marjortte circa 1970)

There is 1 Marjorette made from France ( Volkswagen) and 2 die cast cars by Playart made in Hong Kong . The doors of Volkswagen ( matchbox ) can opened.

Story

The matchbox die-cast cars haul was initially owned by my cousin, who probably have played with these die-cast cars when he was 3 or 5 years-old. The toys would have been kept over the years at their apartment unit somewhere in Nagtahan until i got a chance to play with some of the toys while spending my summer vacation. ( that was in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s).

iconic London double decker bus 

If i remembered it correctly, the matchbox die cast cars collection were probably far more, some of which might got lost over the years. They kept on moving to several apartment units from Nagtahan, Santa Mesa, San Miguel, Sampaloc and Quiapo over the the period of four decades ! I only got a chance to play with the die cast cars a couple of time since i prefer the plastic toy soldiers and animals.

I think the matchbox plastic container was among among the old pieces that were left in our house. Around 2008 when my aunt decided to moved-out of their Sampaloc apartment. One of the reason was termite infestation and periodic leaking of roofs which cause water seepage which destroyed a lot of medical books, encyclopedias, dress and even toys!

1969 (RW) Field Car

They moved into a smaller apartment unit somewhere in Quiapo and then they bought a house and lot somewhere in Marikina. Eventually some desk made from hardwood and some untouched boxes where left in our house ( given away).

Personal Favorites

My personal favorite would be the two volkswagen, double decker bus and the three matchbox car made in 1979 and two corvette.

matchbox cars given to me as gifts by god father 

My cousin is already a successful anesthesiologist and practicing somewhere in the United States.

The toys may not be that expensive in today’s market value. All of the items are in worn- out condition. It was the nostalgia and reminiscing of our shared childhood when hand me down toys are kept and treasured.

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Kitty Exhibits and Collections

The Block – SM North EDSA , Quezon City -Philippines

life-sized Hello Kitty statues

SM City North EDSA is having a Hello Kitty mania all over the whole from this month of November up to January 2013.

SM North EDSA – The Block activity area minutes after the launching of the  Hello Kitty exhibit

The theme for their Christmas set up is “Hello Kitty Christmas Village“, composed of large scale village house of each of the Hello Kitty characters.

two guards at the  Hello Kitty village

The main character of Sanrio which is Hello Kitty is there with her sister Mimi, and with childhood friend Daniel, also with their  parents  and grandparents.

Hello Kitty themed bakeshop

I’m reading the profile of Hello Kitty posted in the wall of the exhibit area and found that her birthplace was in London,  England .

Ms. Denise Lao and Ms. Nicole Beltran

Ms. Denise Lao and Ms. Nicole Beltran are Hello Kitty collectors – Some of their collections are exhibited on the upper floors of the mall.

Hello Kitty collections of  DJ Nicole Hyala

Hello Kitty collection of Ms. Jillan Ward

Ms. Jillian Ward is a child star of GMA Kapuso channel 7 who played  Gertrudis “Trudis” Capili in Trudis Liit and television endorser

Almost all collectors thought she was created  in Japan, since she was created by designer Yuko Shimizu back in the 1974 as a character design embedded in a coin purse for Sanrio. I would also remember that majority  of my female classmates in elementary collected Hello Kitty stuffs.

See the schedule below for events at Hello Kitty Christmas Village:

Hello Kitty Village
Nov 10, 2012 – Jan 6, 2013
The Block Atrium

Hello Kitty Meet and Greet
November 10, 18, 24, 25
December 1, 8, 15, 22, 23, 24
2pm, 3pm and 4pm
The Block Atrium
mechanics: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152256174460261&set=a.243337910260.303150.198076995260&type=1

Hello Kitty Face painting
November 25
December 2, 15, 16, 22, 23
1-3pm, The Block Atrium

Hello Kitty Collector’s Exhibit
Nov 10 – December 31
3rd level City Center

Hello Kitty Home for the Holidays Exhibit
Nov 10 – January 6
Interior Zone

Hello Kitty Fashion Show by SM Kids
December 8
The Block

UP Madrigal Singers and Ateneo Glee Club
Christmas carols Grand Chorale Performance
December 2 and 16
The Block Atrium

London 2010 Festival of Stamps

As part of the London 2010 Festival of Stamps a year long exhibition The British Library Philatelic Rarities will be on show in the permanent Philatelic Exhibition area at the British Library, 96, Euston Road, St Pancras, London, NW1 2DB. Admission free.

Event: London International Stamp Exhibition 2010

Date: May8 to 15, 2010

Over forty of the library’s great philatelic rarities have been selected to be specially featured. Included in the exhibition are the unique America 1765 1d Revenue proof sheet; the introduction of which prompted widespread opposition and the cry “no taxation without representation”; the famous Canada 1851 12 pence black in an unused pair, Cape of Good Hope 1861 4d vermilion error of colour in pair with normal 1d used; a rarity of Great Britain – the 1858-79 1d plate 77 unused; an example of the Hawaii 1851-52 Missionary 2 cents used; the unique cover bearing two examples of India 1854 4 annas with inverted head; the iconic Mauritius 1847 Post Office 1d red used on ‘Ball’ cover and 2d blue unused; Spain 1851 2 reales blue error of colour used; and USA 1918 24 cents Curtiss Jenny error ‘centre inverted’ unused. The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see many of the most significant items in philately and all in one place – The British Library.

In association with this exhibition a new booklet Treasures in Focus Stamps has been published, and is exclusively available from the British Library Shop or via the British Library Online Shop at: shop.bl.uk  Price £3.99.

From Sunday 9^th to Saturday 15^th May at 11.30 each day a philatelic Curator will conduct a tour of the British Library’s Philatelic Exhibition, (which is on permanent public show in 1,000 display frames of about 80,000 items). These exhibits have recently been rearranged and as well as including The British Library Philatelic Rarities exhibition, will also show the first half of the Tapling Collection countries Afghanistan to Mexico, including the fabulous Great Britain collection), which has not been on public display for some time.

Other collections on display include the Mosely Collection of British Africa to 1935; The Bojanowicz Collection of Poland postal history 1938-1946; The Model Collection of Germany 1945-46 local provisional stamps; The Harrison Collection of die proofs 1911-37, engraved by J.A.C. Harrison; The Fitz Gerald Collection of World Airmails to the 1930s (selected pages); The Bailey Collection of Spanish Civil War 1936-39 (selected pages) and The Langmead Collection of Great Britain and Ireland Telegraph stamps.

Other exciting activities that are planned to take place during the period of the year long London 2010 Festival of Stamps will include a series of presentations, which will be staged monthly throughout the year and on a daily basis during London 2010 International Stamp Exhibition from the 10^th to 15^th May.

Visit the website for more information :  http://www.london2010.org.uk/

For details see web page at: www.bl.uk/collections/philatelic

Additional Notes:

Philippine stamp collectors will be able to meet and IPPS will  have an interesting stamp lectures on May 10, 2010

Monday 9-11 AM—May 10, 2010—British Postal Museum and Archive, London,  England
Philippine Show and Tell (sponsored by the International Philippine Philatelic Society )

Contact Person :

Mr. Geoffrey Lewis, POC, +61-2-9399-8566—