Marching Through Time: A Practical Guide to the Collection, Display & Conservation of Lead Miniatures

by N.R. Jenzen-Jones (Author, Editor), Rhian Ward, Matt Thomas

Lead miniatures—from the classic British toy soldier to the fantasy and science-fiction models of the 20th century—are more than charming curiosities. They can be historical artefacts, treasured collector’s items, and works of art. In Marching Through Time: A Practical Guide to the Collection, Display & Conservation of Lead Miniatures, a team of expert contributors shares essential knowledge for anyone interested in collecting, preserving, and displaying these fascinating objects.

Written for a wide audience, the book provides practical advice in tackling the challenges of lead corrosion, safe storage, handling, interpretation, and exhibition of lead miniatures. It features expert advice from curators and conservators at the UK’s National Army Museum and the Naval Surface Warfare Center in the United States, as well as practical guidance from historians and collectors with years of experience. This comprehensive and richly illustrated guide will be well received by collectors, museum professionals, and enthusiasts alike.

In addition to key chapters on conservation and storage, the book includes a brief history of lead miniatures by Dr. N. R. Jenzen-Jones, and a dedicated section on collecting by renowned toy soldier authority Mr. James Opie. Mr. Opie explores what motivates people to collect lead miniatures and outlines some strategies by which newcomers can build meaningful, manageable collections. Whether driven by nostalgia, artistic appreciation, or historical interest, readers will find insight and encouragement—along with plenty of resources for further study.

Topics covered include:

• The historical evolution of lead miniatures
• Real-world case studies in conservation
• Handling and environmental risks
• Why people collect, and how to start
• Displaying and interpreting collections
• Preventing lead corrosion in storage and display

Clear, practical, and generously illustrated in full colour, Marching Through Time is both a practical reference guide and a tangible celebration of these small, yet significant, objects. It offers readers the tools they need to better understand and protect their miniatures—now, and for the next generations.

104 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2025

About the author

N.R. Jenzen-Jones is a technical intelligence specialist, arms historian, and publisher. He is the Editor of Armax: The Journal of Contemporary Arms, the director of Armament Research Services (ARES), and the founder of Helios House Press—publishers of the Miskatonic Missives series of Lovecraftian epistolary readers and the Miskatonic Literary Society series of gothic horror tales. He is the creative director for Miskatonic Missives and the editor of the Christmas with H.P. Lovecraft anthology. Dr Jenzen-Jones holds a visiting fellowship at Nottingham Trent University. He previously held visiting fellowships at Staffordshire University and the University of Northampton, and was awarded the Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s 2022–2023 Resident Fellowship for his work with the Cody Firearms Museum.

In his professional life, Dr Jenzen-Jones maintains a broad focus on how weapons are selected, acquired, stockpiled, and employed. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, a life member of the Ordnance Society and the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, and a member of the Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association (HBSA), the Arms & Armour Society, the International Ammunition Association (IAA), the European Cartridge Research Association (ECRA), the British Institute for Libyan & Northern African Studies (BILNAS), and the Pike & Shot Society.