One-of-a-kind Matchbox Prototypes On Auction to Benefit Charity

LONDON, UK, July 27, 2012 (Press-News.org) Created by master modelmaker George Turner for Matchbox in the 1990s, the resin prototypes are up for auction on Toy Collector's new market platform. All auctions start at just US$1.00 each, and Toy Collector's commission (8% buyer's premium and 8% seller commission) will go to Rachel's Courtyard in Albuquerque, NM, home of Route 66 founder Jim Gallegos. The items come directly from designer George Turner and represent models from the three-inch 1-75 series range and the larger SuperKings series. They include iconic names like Camaro, Ferrari, Ford Mustang, Jeep, Pontiac GTO, and VW Beetle. Two of the models are extra-unusual, as they are prototypes of models which never ultimately went into production for sale to the public. The auctions end on Wednesday, August 1st and have no reserves.

Route 66 Promotions organise the highly-successful annual MC International Gathering of Friends Convention in Albuquerque, which celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. Collectors of Matchbox and other diecast from around the world meet up to socialise, trade and enjoy previews, masterclasses and lectures on diecast-related subjects from experts including current and past Matchbox/Mattel employees as well as a dinner, charity auction and classic and custom car show. This year's event, the most successful ever, ran from July 21st to 22nd.

Located at The Children's Centre at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, NM, Rachel's Courtyard is a play and healing area for patients, families and staff. Situated on the sixth floor of the hospital, it offers indoor and outdoor play areas and a teen lounge, where teenage patients can relax and listen to music. Decorated in a celestial and geographical theme, it features an observatory, four house facades representing different areas of the US, where patients can plant flowers and enjoy lawns, as well as spectacular views of the west mesa. It also provides computers to allow patients to do schoolwork and communicate with friends and others around the country in similar situations. Rachel's Courtyard is named in memory of Rachel Laub, a former patient at the hospital who passed away aged 5 due to complications from Hirschprung's disease. It was made possible by her family, 2,000 community donors and donated support from architects, designers and contractors.

About Toy Collector

It offers resources like want ads and a yellow pages supplier directory and boasts the largest toy-and model-related event calendar on the internet. It also hosts ToyPedia and the TC Market.

For selling on the market or more information on the site please go to http://www.ToyCollector.com or contact Andrew on andrew@toycollector.com or +44 (1494) 727 947.

ToyPedia

In addition to all this, the site features ToyPedia - a Wikipedia-style online encyclopaedia of collectable toys which currently covers over 320,000 items and is growing constantly.

Currently, the project is supported by

- 27 communities including http://www.DiecastAviationForum.com http://www.HobbyTalk.com, www.ModelRailForum, http://www.SlotForum.com and http://www.Wings900.com
- 770 volunteers
- 25 authors who have permitted the organisers to use text and images from 44 books as part of a ToyPedia Book Documentation Project
- 465 toy brands who have agreed to open their archives
- 19 leading auction houses including Bonham's and Christie's have allowed use of their images
- 3 Museums (Brussels Toy Museum, Singapore's MINT Museum and the Los Angeles Slot Car Museum)
- 39 members of the ToyPedia Advisory Board who advise on organisation and taxonomy

For more information please go to http://www.ToyCollector.com/ToyPedia or contact Louisa Cross, the ToyPedia Curator on louisa@toycollector.com or +44 (1494) 727 947. For the ToyPedia Update Programme please contact Marco Solfato on marco@toycollector.com or +44 (1494) 727 947.

Launched in 2008, Toy Collector is a web portal for collectable toy and model enthusiasts designed to allow collectors to share their passions via blogging, discussion forums, picture and video galleries. The site currently hosts over 15,000 toy-related articles and over 50,000 images.

It also offers resources like want ads and a yellow pages suppliers directory and boasts the largest toy-and-model-related event calendar on the internet. In addition to all this, the site also features ToyPedia - a Wikipedia-style online encyclopedia of collectable toys which currently covers over 20,000 items and is growing constantly.