While it is true that I’ve seen – and owned – a lot more rare Breyer models than the average person, and it does take considerable effort to pique my interest in Collectibility classes in general, I occasionally see things that make me go all grabby hands, at least mentally.
Was it a Marney Test, a Decorator, a Raffle Model, or even an Auction piece that roused the Envy Beast in my heart at BVG Live this year?
Nay, it was FAM: specifically, a Gray Appaloosa Family Arabian Mare with the B mold mark!
As I’ve discussed before, I consider the existence of non-Palomino Family Arabians with B mold marks (made roughly from 1979 through 1982/3) good evidence that the rumored Walmart Gray Appaloosa Family Arabians were not a rumor after all.
It now looks like all – or a good portion! – of the Family Arabians sold via the Bentley Sales Company Discontinued Lists in the late 1970s and early 1980s may have been a part of a failed rerelease or Special Run program, and not just ancient warehouse overstock that Breyer pawned off on the Bentley Sales Company, who (being just a short drive away from the factory in Chicago) got all the good warehouse detritus Breyer had to offer.
That realization has made me look at this January, 1983 Bentley Sales Company Discontinued List flier in a completely different light:
(Click to embiggen)
Special Runs. Those Family Arabians were all Special Runs and we had no idea. *Mind blown.*
In case you’re curious, the prices on this list are more or less the same prices for the equivalent Regular Runs of the time – there wasn’t a “mark-up” for discontinued items, at least through Bentley Sales. Most of this stuff really was warehouse overstock, and Breyer really didn’t have a way of marketing items like this to collectors other than selling it off to mail-order companies.
There was a bit of a mark-up for some Special Run items that were made specifically for companies like Bentley Sales, but it wasn’t huge because most of their customers were younger and poorer: the market wouldn’t have supported it!
Anyway, now that I seem to have all – or most – of the Low-Relief Family Arabian Mares, the B-mold Mark ones are next up on my want list.
(Actually, I’ll just settle for one. I’m not picky about color or condition.)
4 comments:
Hmmm, I bought a charcoal FAS about this time. I'll need to see if he has a B stamp. I have that price list, too, I bought the black Pacer from it.
My grey appy Family Arabs bought through Bentleys do not have B stamps, so not all of those sold via Bentleys have them.
My charcoal does not have a B stamp (from above)
I have a complete set of matte gray appaloosa Family Arabs with B stamps and an extra foal. I had a 3rd B stamp matte gray appaloosa FAF which I had shown you at BF right before the pandemic. I also have 2 matte charcoal Family Arab Stallions with B stamps. So far I have not seen alabaster Family Arabs. I bought all of these second hand so can't confirm their original source.
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