Miniatures in history

Il collezionismo è la conoscenza di ciò che esiste, la memoria del passato, la curiosità per il futuro
(Prof. Stefano Zecchi)

Humans always produced scale models for various reasons. Models of ships have been found in egyptian pyramids and scale models of different items can be found in almost any historical period.
The are probably several reasons behind the need that human beings feel of collecting scale models but the most important is probably the wish of owning a model in reduced scale of those items that impressed them particularly.
Scale modeling as we know it now starts in early 1930's and becomes very popular in 1950's when two bsuinessmen decide independently to use their injection molding equipment to produce toys.
Originally scale models were considered "toys" whilst, today, they are considered very important not to lose memory of historical events.