Sunday 22nd March saw the first Wade Fair of 1998 held at Trentham Gardens
in Stoke-on-Trent, UK. The setting
was lovely and the weather was wonderful.
Highlights of the day included a fun run with the club team dressed
as the new Toybox series, a charity auction and signing events by
Pat Murray and antiques expert Henry Sandon.
The special event Catkins City Gent (pictured left) sold out almost immediately
and those lucky enough to have the piece were being offered £50/$80
just a short while after. The Out & About (pictured right) event piece was also available
on the day and will also be available at other Wade events throughout the year.
All the major Wade commissioners were there C&S Collectables, Camtrak,
The Collector, UKI, G&G and others, along with about 30 other Wade dealers.
The amount of Wade available was impressive. Disney blow-ups,
event pieces, Whimsies, one-offs, and some older and rarer pieces.
The new
C&S Magoo is nearly ready and one model was available
for view. It is limited to only 1,000 and with a launch
date to coincide with the Disney film, it is going to be
HOT!
The Popeye series looked even better in person, and the new
Collector limited editions 'In the Forest Deep' were extremely cute and well made.
Camtrak's series of Childhood Favourites were on display including the new
Sooty piece, although the first four in the series have already sold out.
Richleigh promotions were showing their Indian Boy and Japanes Girl
and were also showing the moulds of the other pieces in the series.
Wade seem to be producing some great designs and the secondary market seems
to be extremely active. The event was a huge success and many thousands
of collectors turned up.
Sales for the majority of stall holders
seemed to be brisk with a few of commissioners selling their entire
stock in the first couple of hours. The 'Travelhare' from C&S which is
being produced in four colourways (250 available at various Wade events)
were snapped up, so look out for the next colourway at Dunstable. The charity auction
in aid of the Douglas MacMillan Hospice saw a special edition 'Catkins City Gent'
sell for £600/$1000.
Antiques expert Henry Sandon was signing at the event and also started the
fun run and acted as the auctioneer. He seemed astounded that the event
has attracted so many people. This was my first time at a Wade event and
I must admit I too was impressed at the turn out and enthusiasm of the
collectors. This all bodes well for Wade and its collectors. Hopefully, a
few more of them will be joining us in cyberspace and at the World Collectors
Net in due course.
Sunday 22nd March saw the first Wade Fair of 1998 held at Trentham Gardens
in Stoke-on-Trent, UK. The setting
was lovely and the weather was wonderful.
Highlights of the day included a fun run with the club team dressed
as the new Toybox series, a charity auction and signing events by
Pat Murray and antiques expert Henry Sandon.
The special event Catkins City Gent (pictured left) sold out almost immediately
and those lucky enough to have the piece were being offered £50/$80
just a short while after. The Out & About (pictured right) event piece was also available
on the day and will also be available at other Wade events throughout the year.
All the major Wade commissioners were there C&S Collectables, Camtrak,
The Collector, UKI, G&G and others, along with about 30 other Wade dealers.
The 
Wade seem to be producing some great designs and the secondary market seems
to be extremely active. The event was a huge success and many thousands
of collectors turned up.
Some example prices the US prices are approx:
