Matchbox Models of Yesteryear were first issued by Lesney in the mid 1950’s.
With production of models in various ranges through changes in ownership of the brand name, they were popularised again as “collectors items” in Australia in the late 1980’s through mail order.
My collection spans from those early days, recalling my father’s small collection with some regret as I played with them as a small child, through to the 1990’s when I too collected some items via mail order. It is not an exhaustive collection, heaven help me if it were, the prices of Yesteryears did reach heady heights in the 1990’s but have since plumbed the depths of a price slump and glut of “collectors items”.
Most of the early issues I collect with the aim of completing the various issue sets in their respective box types. The later issues I am retaining the models that I like, for colour, style, livery, and predominantly as I think they look nice.
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