Lego Collector's Catalog

[Brickadier General]

This sounds kinda neat as a "coffe table" type book, but I'm not sure I see the value as an informational resource. Within six months, the book will be out of date as new sets are released. Websites like Lugnet and Brickset are much better resources in this regard.

The book also brings up an aspect of Lego bricks that I think is weird -- collectability. For example, if I own all the bricks necessary to build the famous yellow castle, can I truly be said to "own" the yellow castle? Can I sell those bricks for hundreds of dollars, even though I never actually purchased the yellow castle in a store??

Lego seems unique in this sense, compared to other collectibles. If I collect action figures, there's no question as to whether or not I actually "own" the figure in question -- either it's sitting on my shelf or it's not. But with Lego, it's sorta vague. If I own the pieces, do I therefore also own the set? It's almost a philosophical question!

Sorry, didn't mean to derail the topic. X-D

Your point is a valid one. However, Lego can be considered a collectible, as hard as it may be for us in the MOCing crowd to understand. Just look at the Star Wars sets. The license adds a whole other dimension, reeling in Star Wars collectors, as well as Lego collectors. However, with these kinds of things condition is everything. In addition to having all the pieces, the biggest selling point of old used Lego sets are the instruction manuals and the boxes. Just having the right parts to build the set isn't enough in the eyes of most collectors. Granted, there will always be someone willing to buy it, but your final value will most likely be considerably less. The same goes for other building toys like Erector.

Another problem with Lego is original pieces. They have changed in a lot of ways in the past 50 years, and you know most kids mix their parts together. Now, I think it wouldn't be too big of a deal with sets from the past 30 years now. But with stuff from the 50s and 60s, they're probably only going to be worth more if you have parts from the period.

So now that this book is coming out, when can we expect to see the biography of Ole Kirk published? Every other big long established company's founder seems to get one.

Edited March 5, 2008 by Brickadier General

[Brickmaster]

Frankly I really want to get my hands on this book. It sort of remindes me of the other popular lego book, but this one seems a whole lot more refined and specified at the sets - Which I take great intrest to especially. I really want to take a look at the older space line and such. I am a maniac at just looking and searching and memorizing (unintentionally) set numbers and everything, special elements they include, etc..

At the peak of my legoing hype I could name off almost any space set number I bet X-D Good or bad thing, you decide..

I will be getting this book, eventually.

[madoka]

I've often dreamed that Lego would put out a product like this so I could feel okay about throwing away all my empty boxes. The great flaw with this book, however, is that it doesn't seem to include the pictures of the alternate models on the back on the box. I guess my boxes will have to stay with me forever. :'-(

[CP5670]

Frankly I really want to get my hands on this book. It sort of remindes me of the other popular lego book, but this one seems a whole lot more refined and specified at the sets - Which I take great intrest to especially. I really want to take a look at the older space line and such. I am a maniac at just looking and searching and memorizing (unintentionally) set numbers and everything, special elements they include, etc..

At the peak of my legoing hype I could name off almost any space set number I bet X-D Good or bad thing, you decide..

I still can, along with all the Technic, Aquazone and Model Team numbers, and most of the City/town ones as well. I'm a fanatic. X-D

Edited March 5, 2008 by CP5670

[snefroe]

Ah.... indeed a very philosophical question. It deserves a topic all its own.

As a collector, my answer would be that if you don't own the box and the instructions, but mostly the box, you don't own the set.

I know people will jump all over me for saying this, but let's face it the only unique aspect of a LEGO set is the box and original instructions. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of general purpose parts.

Bring it on!

*skull*

:-P

well i think that a collector collects something special.

a real collector doesn't collect Lego, he/she collects Lego sets. That includes bricks, box, instruction book, catalog. Sure, you can get a copy of the instruction book and forget all about the box, if you want, but then you're just a collector of bricks and copied instruction books, nothing special about that.

[Mirandir]

If you ask me I would say that if you own all pieces of a set you can claim to own the set. But Whitout the box and instructions the set isn't worth more than the pieces in it. I'd probably pay up to twice as much for a set if it has box and instructions i "mint" condition.

[legotrainfan]

I think the LEGO collector's catalogue is a great idea although you can also check brickset, of course! But it's still nice to have a book in your hands instead of going on-line all the time. I mean sometimes newspapers also have an on-line "twin" but it's a different feeling to have the newspaper (the real paper version) in your hands. And the LEGO catalogue might be updated from time to time.

The book also brings up an aspect of Lego bricks that I think is weird -- collectability. For example, if I own all the bricks necessary to build the famous yellow castle, can I truly be said to "own" the yellow castle? Can I sell those bricks for hundreds of dollars, even though I never actually purchased the yellow castle in a store??

Lego seems unique in this sense, compared to other collectibles. If I collect action figures, there's no question as to whether or not I actually "own" the figure in question -- either it's sitting on my shelf or it's not. But with Lego, it's sorta vague. If I own the pieces, do I therefore also own the set? It's almost a philosophical question!

Ah.... indeed a very philosophical question. It deserves a topic all its own.

As a collector, my answer would be that if you don't own the box and the instructions, but mostly the box, you don't own the set.

I know people will jump all over me for saying this, but let's face it the only unique aspect of a LEGO set is the box and original instructions. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of general purpose parts.

Bring it on!

*skull*

:-P

Oh, I love philosophy! *sweet* So let me add some thoughts:

What if you throw away the box and sell the instructions on eBay? Do you still own the set? (That problem has already been referred to.) But what if you lose some parts and order replacement parts on bricklink? D'you really own the set then though you added bricks that did not come with the actual set? I'

As it is usual for philosophy the questions have just become more instead of answering the initial ones. :-P ;-)

EDIT: Or even more philosophy: What if you buy the two special tiles for the limited edition version of 10020, the limited edition box and that document and add it to your ordinary non-limited edition Super Chief? Can you then claim that you're the owner of a limited edition Super Chief?

Edited March 5, 2008 by legotrainfan

[Mirandir]

Here in sweden there used to be a book released every year that contained all major news from the past year. Maybe they could do the same here? Every year there is a new addition stating theese things. It would be easier now since the sets are rarely produced more than two or three years. So with a couple of years "drag" they could keep the to-from years correct.

So e.g: They would publish sets from 2004 this year and sets released 2005 next year and so on.

[Holodoc]

Here

[natelite]

while i don't dispute with gylman that the box and instructions and parts make the sets, looking at what BL users pay for complete without instructions or box sets i would have to say parts make up approx 60% of the set value. as the set grows older, more weight is placed on box and instructions but ultimately having the parts count too...if not fully.

the argument that without the box and instructions the parts are nothing doesn't really hold. how else would you explain why people pay a premium for mini sets (small $5-10 sets) when it is just as easy to buy the parts separately at a cheaper total price. of course, this viewpoint is taken from the market perspective...so who is to say that the market isn't made up of irrational people. :-D aka greenspan's irrational exuberance. :-P

[der seb]

[AFOL SF]

Here

[Joebot]

Is the set the physical parts or the concept, the copyrighted process of construction laid out in the instructions?

That is a terrific way of articulating the question. I have no freakin' idea what the answer is ... but you totally nailed what I was incoherently trying to ask in my original post.

After reading everyone's thoughtful responses, it seems like the definition of a "set" is largely determined by the buyer. Obviously having the correct pieces is the most important aspect, but certain other physical artifacts (instructions, box, stickers, etc.) potentially add to the value in the buyer's mind.

Anyway, back on topic ("stay on target...."), this book looks nice. It's never going to replace the up-to-the-second accuracy of the online resources, but it looks like a really fun book to flip through. And for those of us old enough to remember those old sets, it will be a great bit of nostalgia too.

[snefroe]

the argument that without the box and instructions the parts are nothing doesn't really hold. how else would you explain why people pay a premium for mini sets (small $5-10 sets) when it is just as easy to buy the parts separately at a cheaper total price. of course, this viewpoint is taken from the market perspective...so who is to say that the market isn't made up of irrational people. :-D aka greenspan's irrational exuberance. :-P

well people don't buy the parts seperately because it would be very expensive. buying a big set means buying at different BL shops (including postage and shipping), it's extra messy because you really have to spend time on working it all out... not fun :-X

let's face it: the box has a big value to every set. don't we all just wanna pick up a box in the shop, listen to sound of bricks in bags shifting from one side to the other... :-$ the notion that there's a closed box with lego to be opened as soon as you get home... :-$ *wub* those things make a set special too...

I am a bit disappointed about the layout though... it looks nice but it seems... by lack of a better word... <insert that tiresome argument>... no prices, no real explenation like to what theme or series it belonged... ofcourse i'll buy it, and ofcourse it'll be close in reach at all times, but it doesn't look like a real collector's or AFOL's guide or anything, just all the catalogs of the last 50 years put together. For instance, we don't see photos of boxes and instruction books, but photoshopped covers of the box...

Edited March 5, 2008 by snefroe

[CP5670]

Yeah, I'm not that impressed by that snapshot, although I'll reserve judgment until the thing is actually out. I thought it would be something like that Japanese book someone referred to, which I remember seeing on ebay. I couldn't read anything, but it seemed to have different sections for each theme and fairly detailed descriptions of the themes.

[AFOL SF]

Yeah, I'm not that impressed by that snapshot, although I'll reserve judgment until the thing is actually out. I thought it would be something like that Japanese book someone referred to, which I remember seeing on ebay. I couldn't read anything, but it seemed to have different sections for each theme and fairly detailed descriptions of the themes.

Good quality paper, too! It was quite expensive (on eBay) for its size - about 8"X8" (or close to).

[Holodoc]

Does anybody know what the dimension of this book or if it will come with a dustcover?

The dimension of the playmobil-issue (softcover) is DIN A 5 (german standard length :-P ) = 21 x 14,8 cm

other ones have been published 16,5 x 11,8 cm.

[Klaus-Dieter]

Thank you very much for that news, Jan Beyer, jipay and gylman!

That are great news! 8-

[shunlabs]

I am a bit disappointed about the layout though... it looks nice but it seems... by lack of a better word... uniorised... no prices, no real explenation like to what theme or series it belonged

Are Belgian nationals the only ones here to find criticism over this book ?

(Must be the political climate that fails to get better :-P )

Well, nobody seemed to complain about the complete omission of :

- # of figs;

- theme / subtheme classification

They would not eat too much space, I think, and would be very useful ! :-$

Having some price references would also have been very interesting, but, granted, since it tends to vary a lot accross countries, that would have probably meant only considering Germany and US msrp's for instance.

Still, I would love to see price references.

[Cardinal Brick]

The cover looks good, as to when you own the set I don't know either but it might be worth a long ponder later.

[Holodoc]

The Lego collector catalog

is ready to be preordered.

It will be published in may.

[Johnny 5]

Found this on the publishers site.

It can be pre-ordered now and will be delivered early May.

[Hinckley]

I've merged this with the other topic. Thanks for finding the pic. *sweet*

[Shoc]

The Lego collector catalog

is ready to be preordered.

It will be published in may.

Waagh! I must buy! X-D

I hope it's going to be available on the Lego Shop at Home, cos I don't know if I'll be able to get it on that site...

I'm not a religious person, so this would be like a bible to me!

*skull*

[Johnny 5]

I've merged this with the other topic. Thanks for finding the pic. *sweet*

I searched for this topic with the words Lego Collector, why didn't it come up?