Splendid Hartland Books
Since 1983

Hartland books by Gail Fitch
"The Best Source of Hartland Information™"
(According to a Former owner of Hartland)

For 35 years, publications by Gail Fitch have captured Hartland horses,
horse-and-rider sets, and company history.

                                        A quality brand of models / toys / figurines

Hartland
is the brand name of decorative, plastic products that originated in the 1940s with Hartland Plastics, Inc.,  of Hartland, Wisconsin. It is most famous for its high-quality model horses, horse-and-rider sets,  and ballplayer figurines. After the 1960s, the brand continued under other ownership.

Hartland ranks second only to Breyer in the quantity of rigid-plastic model horses produced since the 1940s. Breyer's first horse was a copy of a 1940s Hartland horse! In the 1950s, Hartland produced horse-and-rider sets in the likeness of dozens of TV western and historical heroes. In the 1960s, it issued individual horses and horse families. Later Hartland companies released some of the horse models in additional colors, but few of the rider sets. Hartland is complicated because six different companies have made Hartland horses over a period of seven decades!

In quality, some collectors rank Hartland first. Its main horse sculptor actually won awards -- in national contests. Hartland's technical processes were different from others' and allowed a finer level of sculpted detail to be reproduced. Many collectors prefer Hartland's typical light-gloss or semi-gloss finishes over the matte finishes common to most other brands of horses.  As one collector (T.H.) said, "They're prettier." And, for horse-and-rider sets, no company comes close.

                           Books:   Three Hartland books from Schiffer Publishing

Learn about this important brand of beautifully painted and sculpted horses -- and riders -- in the set of three Hartland books by Gail Fitch, from Schiffer Publishing -- with color photos, history, and values! Each book covers different models!

Hartland Horsemen (1999)
Horse-and-rider sets, 1940s -- 1999.

Hartland Horses and Dogs (2000)
Horses and dogs, 1950s -- 2000. Includes the detailed story of the Hartland companies, 1930s -- 2000.

Hartland Horses: New Model Horses Since 2000 (2012)
Horses and horse-and-rider items produced or sold in 2000-2007. Includes regular-run, special run, and gift-run (contest) models, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans sets, and many unique, test models!           

 

         "A fabulous book"                                      "Visually arresting"

         horses and dogs         

          "The elite model horse"                            Autumn 2020
                                                                                      Model Equestrian magazine

          
          Model Equestrian magazine
          Winter 2021-22
                                                                                              


Buy from the author -- The three Hartland books published by Schiffer are available from booksellers everywhere, but when you buy them from me, I (1) will sign and number each book, (2) can write, "To  ----" [fill in the name], and (3) will enclose a quick index- outline-update sheet.                                              
                                                               
Prices --
Each book is  $26 by PayPal or $25 by personal check or money order.
Prices include shipping.
                                                               
                                               Model Equestrian: A printed magazine

The latest issue of Model Equestrian: Horse Collecting & Hartland News, Summer 2019 (above, right) is 20 pages of news, features, reviews, discussion, tips, history, and more for model horse hobbyists, Hartland collectors, TV western fans, and horse lovers.
You can order back issues, too.  
Send an email to gfitch@tds.net to always be notified of the next issue.

                                                        How to order publications

To use PayPal, go to Catalog page.
To send a check or money order, print out the Order Form Page (or send a note), and mail it with payment to:

Gail Fitch                                                      Contact me at: gfitch@tds.net
1733 N. Cambridge Ave., #109            That is also the email address if using PayPal.
Milwaukee, WI 53202



 


  PEOPLE LOVE THE NEW BOOK!

 These responses to Hartland Horses: New Model Horses Since 2000 arrived soon after the first waves of books were mailed in July 2012:


“Looks great!” – M.P.
“Fabulous. Love it!” – D.H.
“It’s lovely, just like your others.” – K.W.

“Can hardly wait for your next book to come out.” – J.Y.Z“Very nice, so delightful. Thank you for all your hard work.” – M.C.
“It is gorgeous. Such a nice dedication to your parents, too.” – L.C.

“There are a whole lot of models here I knew nothing about, but thanks to your dedication, I now do!” – C.C.
“I love your books. The colors are beautiful, and it is well thought out and, of course, well researched!” – A.P.

“I really, really like it. You did an awesome job! Thank you again for all of your hard work to put this book out for all of us Hartland collectors.” –A.K.

“It’s a beautiful book! You have so much detail in your descriptions of each photo. They’re fun to read. Hartland is such an interesting company. I’m glad to have this book.” – B.W.

“I’m going to order a second book…I’ll be reading this one to death! Already, I see a lot of colors of the -- -- that I want to add to my collection. I currently have 22 different colors…Boy, do I have a long way to go.” – C.O.

“The book was well done. I love how the horses were superimposed on the pages, the photos were lovely, and I really enjoyed reading your “autobiography” at the end… Thanks again for another great Hartland book, and keeping the Hartland history alive.” – S.T.

“Now, I know I own a  -- -- , and that there are other Hartlands I’d like to get my hands on as well. They are uniquely appealing, and the photos in the book really show them off. The level of detail in the text is phenomenal. It’s easy to tell that your writing the Hartland books has been a labor of love.” – R.B.

“I’m going to be taking my time and savor every minute reading through this book. Thank you for all you’ve given of yourself, not only for the love of Hartland, but the model horse hobby as a whole.” – I.C.



                                             Other Goods and Services

Questions and Answers:
Do you have an unusual model you want my opinion on?
Also, I can give referrals on many matters related to Hartland.

Commission sales:
Because of my contacts, reputation, and extensive knowledge of Hartland models, I've done some commission sales of Hartland models. Email me. 

News and Sales at this website:
See the News Page  for brief news. (Much more is in my printed magazine.)
Check the Models for Sale Page -- for sales by others (and my doubles when I have some)

Sales on eBay:
Check eBay auctions by  hartland_guru for Hartland books and, occasionally, my doubles on Hartland horses or things I'm selling on commission.
Due to a death in my friend's family, that can include Hummels.

Join my private email list!
I send announcements of new publications or models for sale (on commission or mine) a few times per year. Your email will not be used in any other way. To join, email gfitch@tds.net






                 
                   

Above -- The Autumn 2020 issue of
MODEL EQUESTRIAN: Horse Collecting & Hartland News
, Issue 17, was published in August 2020. It includes four pages in color.
See Catalog and Order Form pages.



  • Mary

                                         About the author

In 1980, Gail Fitch began locating and interviewing Hartland officials. The result was Hartland books -- in color -- many editions from 1983-1998. She also wrote articles for newspapers, collecting magazines, and model horse journals, and produced a popular Hartland newsletter in 1994-1996. Her 1998 and earlier publications are retired because they have been replaced by the much better books from Schiffer Publishing!

 

                                                                             Making Friends

                           The Hummel figurine, "Making New Friends," includes a boy with a snowman that is holding a broom made apparently of straw or some other natural material. The broom is not porcelain. It is removable. This figurine was at auction on eBay. In my photo there, I forgot to include the broom. I added this photo here on June 29, 2013, because eBay's software would not let us add a photo after bidding had started.

Home Page updated: July 21, 2012, April 13, 2013, January 17, 2014, December 16, 2014; February 14, 2016, April 25 and 26, 2016 ... April 15, 2017, and in April 2018. July 8, 2018. February 2019. July 2, 2019.

Website Copyright 2000-2019 Gail Fitch