AN AVID toy collector is selling up and collecting his pension. London auction house Christie's will be selling the Philip Dean Collection on Thursday December 1.

Christie's describes it as "the finest civilian figure collection ever".

Its owner, Ringwood photographic developer Mr Dean, predicts that the 590 lots, mainly of civilian figures, will be worth between £150,000 and £200,000.

The little lead figures depict farm workers, circus folk, railway employees and people going about their daily life, like his assembly of Salvation Army figures made in the early 1900s.

Also going to the highest bidders will be some of his favourites from the world of television and the silver screen, including the Three Little Pigs in their houses, made by Excella. Described as "exceptionally rare", they are expected to sell at between £2,500 and £3,000. But Mr Dean says "on a good day they could make £5,000".

Aged 56, Mr Dean, who lives in the Muscliffe area of Bournemouth, is selling up because his photo laboratory is being squeezed out of existence by the digital photography revolution.

"Now I'm trying to collect my pension," he said.

He has been collecting toy figures for 20 years.

"I like them, that's why. I've always been a collector of one thing or another and just got a great deal of satisfaction from collecting them. They are just great little figures."

And they provide a historical picture of life at the time they were made.

Gone are the days when he could buy them for a song at car boot sales. Mr Dean now goes to dealers, auctions or toy fairs; or other collectors approach him.

Wife Angela and sons Oliver, 20, and Barnaby, who is at Bournemouth School, will continue to share their home with toys as Mr Dean is keeping 500 or more.

"They think I'm sad," he said. "But they can't be too unkind because it's their future.

"I don't think I would be able to sell up entirely.

"In the last four years I've brought out three new books on the toys, so I've still got my collection in the books."

First published: November 4, 2005