The most valuable toy soldier in the world is the first handcrafted 1963 G.I. Joe prototype which was sold on 7 August 2003 by its creator Don Levine to Baltimore businessman Stephen A. Geppi for $200,000 (£124,309) during an auction conducted by Heritage Comics Auctions of Dallas, Texas, USA.

Don Levine made the nearly one-foot high figure on his ping pong table 40 years ago. The prototype wears a hand-stitched Sargeant’s uniform and an apparently battle-weary expression.

2004 marks the 40th anniversary of when the first G.I. Joe went on sale.