Karlslake Matchbox collection up for sale

Vincent Karslake, son of famed diecast model developer, Howard, is offering his Matchbox collection for sale as one lot, and it includes some of his father's rare prototypes, developed directly for Lesney back in the 1960s and 1970s.

Containing many rare models, including a one-off BOC Tanker prototype (see photograph above) that was deemed by Lesney to be too expensive to produce, plus many mint boxed early and rare variations, Vincent wants to sell it as a whole collection.

Many of these very rare and desirable Matchbox were part of Howard Karslake's personal toy collection. He was responsible for an extensive amount of pre-production and prototype model work, not just for Lesney, but also Corgi, Dinky and other toy companies. The majority of these items have not been played with, some opened for inspection and some never opened at all.

Also included is Vincent Karslake’s Fast Back Beach Buggy that Ken Whetton (one of the original model makers) fell in love with and consequently it became the very basis of the No 30 Superfast production model. The photograph below represents only a portion of the entire collection. Interested parties can make contact with the vendor through the editor. Send an email to Editor  [email protected], and he'll put you in touch.