I accumulated these Guardias between 1973 and sometime in the 1990s. Most were gifts from Marivi and her family, who knew I had started collecting them.

Most were store-bought souvenirs or novelties. A couple were hand-made by a friend of Marivi's. And I believe a few of the smaller ones were prizes that came with children's candy.

One of the things that distinguished real Guardias was their uniform, which was a modified version of what they wore in the 19th and early 20th centuries - including a cape and an unusual tricorn hat.

They still wear them for certain ceremonies and parades, but, these days, the working uniforms more closely resemble modern police or military uniforms so they're no longer unique. That may be why the figurines seem to have disappeared from stores.