MARSHAL TURENNE OF FRANCE, 1658
Overview
Introduction and product overview
Historical context: Battle of the Dunes, June 14, 1658
Collector notes: identification, variants, packaging, market pricing
This review examines the Del Prado CBH009 miniature depicting Marshal Turenne at the Battle of the Dunes, 1658. Issued in 2007 as part of the “Cavalry Through the Ages” series, this 1:30 scale tin‑alloy figure carries the Del Prado series code CBH009 and showcases French cavalry under Turenne. It features factory‑applied paint and comes packaged in a blister with an Osprey excerpt. The review explores historical context, sculpting details, and collector considerations with precision and clarity.
Historical Background
Marshal Henri de La Tour d’Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne, led French forces allied with Commonwealth troops in a decisive action at the Battle of the Dunes on June 14, 1658, near Dunkirk in the Spanish Netherlands (britannica.com). French infantry and cavalry, supported by 6,000 English Commonwealth foot soldiers under William Lockhart and naval bombardment from English warships, besieged the Spanish-held port (britannica.com). A relieving Spanish army commanded by John of Austria, supplemented by French Royalist Frondeurs under the Prince of Condé and English Royalist exiles led by the Duke of York, deployed on the dunes with right flank on the sea and left toward the Bruges canal (britannica.com).
Turenne exploited the ebb tide and ground features by deploying cavalry on both flanks, with beach cavalry sweeping around the Spanish right while infantry assaulted dunes held by seasoned Spanish tercios (en.wikipedia.org). The naval bombardment and coordinated Anglo‑French assault overwhelmed the relief force in roughly two hours, inflicting approximately 1,000–1,200 killed, 3,000 wounded, and 5,000 captured, while allied losses numbered about 400 (en.wikipedia.org). The victory secured Dunkirk, which surrendered on June 24, 1658, subsequently ceded to England, and paved the way toward the 1659 Peace of the Pyrenees (en.wikipedia.org). The battle exemplified innovative use of terrain, combined arms, and Anglo‑French cooperation in 17th‑century warfare.
Collector Notes
This Del Prado CBH009 figure, titled “Marshal Turenne, Battle of the Dunes, 1658,” belongs to the Cavalry Through the Ages line and was manufactured in 2007 as a tin‑alloy figure in 1:30 scale with factory paint, housed in a blister pack often accompanied by an Osprey excerpt (lastdodo.com). It was produced in Hong Kong for the Spanish publisher Del Prado, with design credited to Andy Neilson (lastdodo.com). The miniature measures approximately 90 mm long by 85 mm tall when mounted on its pedestal (worthpoint.com). Collectors should note blister condition, pedestal text legibility, and paint preservation. Variants are limited; mis‑painting or loss of included Osprey leaflet reduces value.
Listings suggest secondary‑market pricing around £7–8 (≈ USD 10–12) new, or US$19–20 in Cavalry bundles (ebay.ca). Watch for repackaged or shrink‑wrapped conditions; shrink‑wrapped near‑mint copies may fetch a small premium (nobleknight.com). Common issues include slight pedestal bending, blister yellowing, and minor paint wear at extremities. Overall, well‑preserved examples remain affordable and desirable for collectors of 17th‑century French cavalry.
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