Q: From where you got additions to your collections???

I spent finally some time to catalogize few boxes of my plastic animals and I just realized what experienced travelers are some of these...

I am really curious for the list of countries from where you got your additions! Of course, large brand collectors can buy their regular additions mostly in their local shops but rarity-hunters or vintage collectors can have on their list very interesting places...

I only collect vintage, mostly UK brands, most items made 1920-70, so apart from eBay of course, its toy collectors fairs, antique fairs and flea markets, and almost all of these I actually attend are on the local (about 5 km from home) agricultural showground. Busy few weeks there, antique fair last weekend, flea market (different organiser) next Sunday, toy fair the Sunday after that. Also I attend some 'real life' antiques auctions (there are several in this part of 'Olde England') and buy by leaving commission bids or phone bidding at specialist toy auctions. There are more than enough temptations for my money with just those, even with mega rare items. Some items may be a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to buy, but it seems another different 'once in a lifetime' rarity comes along a month or so later.
I've started to build up a modest collection of figures from other countries, such as Starlux(France) and Reisler(Denmark), by swapping with members here and at the French 1:32 toy soldier forum, with me sending them my UK brands duplicates.

I buy mostly on ebay or in shops if i see some interesting stuff.

Most part of my collection are from trades and gifts on forum. I acquire few locally, rarely online and never at flea markets. That's the list of countries I can remember:

Bulgaria,
Denmark,
England,
Finland,
France,
Germany,
Holland,
Ireland,
Portugal,
Hungary,
Norway,
Poland,
Romania,
Russia,
Serbia,
Slovenia,
Spain,
Sweden,
Hong Kong,
India,
Indonesia,
Philippines,
United States,
Peru,
Australia,
New Zealand.

I am almost sure I am forgeting some.

Online/Ebay/STS buys/trades from Austria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Switserland and UK

Toy stores, antique markets, flea markets, carboot sales, occasional a second-hand shop, mainly around The Netherlands, but also some Belgium, Germany, USA (NYE/SEA)
When i have time, i try to look in advance for shops/markets in any place i visit.

Schleich, Papo and Bullyland in toy stores here in town, also all special editions by Müller are available here.

Safari, CollectA and Mojö figures always online by spielzeug-günstig.de / Modellpferdeversand/babymarkt.de/

Many figures are from Ebay or sometimes trades and buys from STS members.

Many figures of all brand and also a lot of old vintage figures are from Ebay or often from different kinds of flea markets in our town.

I get the retired ones on
-ebay--the latest one from France
-trades
-NewZealand auction Trademe
-Toyworld in New Zealand


I can get schleich in New Zealand, but unfortunately no other brands that I know of