I Take It Back!

It figures. Just when you write," I try to write about things that you generally won't read about elsewhere...", that VERY DAY, Breyer does this:

The Vintage Club opened for 2022 membership renewals, and Breyer posted this photo of the first offering and wrote, "Our first release of 2022 will be Cooper, a stunning Appaloosa Performance Horse inspired by the original Brenda Breyer Gift Set, and we have plenty more surprises ahead for our 10th anniversary edition of the club!"

My favorite breed on a vintage mold with a nod to the Brenda Breyer gift set? I hit that renewal button fast as lightning.

My original set from the early 1980s. 

Breyer doesn't say anything about a doll coming with the 2022 model, but they have the horse, the tack, and the box from the past; surely they would do the doll, too? Or could a Brenda Breyer be one of the surprises they mention? I sure hope so!

I can't wait to see what else the club will have this year. Oh, and in regards to saying that you don't do something? Never say never!

(Photos of Cooper from the Breyer web site.)

Found! A Chalky Appaloosa Performance Horse

I have been looking for a chalky Appaloosa Performance Horse for years. When he was first released, I did not like the mold (that tail!) and so I chose other Breyers over him when I was buying new pieces for my collection. But, I did love the color - it is probably my favorite of all the colors Breyer has ever produced.Recently I found a really nice one. It was a smidge over what I wanted to pay, but because it was so nice and my search had been so long, I purchased it. (Photo by seller.)The color is one of Breyer's most popular and has been used for several Vintage Club offerings.

And they all have the smile-inducing double dots on the back.

The free Vintage Club stablemate in 2012 was Eagle. This was the first year for the club, and we vintage collectors were thrilled to see that APH appaloosa color used again.

The next year, Halo, the Stretch Morgan in the APH appaloosa coloring, was one of the four Vintage Club offerings. I was surprised to see the color used in the Vintage Club so soon again, but I sure wasn't going to complain as I loved it!

We had to wait six more years until 2019 when Leopold was released for Vintage Club members on the Fighting Stallion mold.

Of course, by then I had begun a serious search for the original Appaloosa Performance Horse to add to my collection. I bought this non chalky piece in 2017.

But still I kept looking for the chalky version. I found and rejected many on various sales sites - either the price was more than I was willing to pay, or the model was in poor shape (and even a few that were a combination of the two - high price/beat up horse.)

This guy has some flaws, but they are minor and hard to see. I am pleased to have finally completed my search! (Photo by seller.)

More of That Color!

I think the color that the original Appaloosa Performance Horse came in is stunning.

Especially for its time (released in 1974), it was very, very different, and even now, collectors call it one of their favorites.

I am fortunate to have several pieces in my collection done in that color. It's the old 5 Gaiter sorrel with resist dappling for the white spots and then dark brown polkadots painted over the other two colors.

 Leopold was just released for the Vintage Collectors Club and was the subject of yesterday's post. (I can't put him away on the shelf with the other Fighting Stallions; I want him right on my desk where I can see him!)

The color was used again on the Stretch Morgan, Halo, another Vintage Club piece which was released in 2013.

 A beautiful vintage color on a beautiful (and a favorite) mold!

Every year there is a free Stablemate for club members. I am not much of a Stablemate collector, but I loved Eagle when he was sent to me in 2012.

 I love how Breyer worked hard to ensure faithful reproductions of the color.

I still need to find the chalky version of the original piece. I have found many in the past, but since they are chalky, their finish often has suffered a lot of damage. Hopefully I will find one at the CHIN this coming BreyerFest.

Tomorrow, a look at the "odd dots."