Article by Inger Fountain
With Lego well into production for series two of their Collectable Minifigures range and with Series 3 already approved, it seems the collectable figure concept has been a big hit with fans. Lego came out with the first wave in May, selling blind packaged minifigures for each at retail stores.
Although there were 16 different figures in the Series 1 range, fans had to take pot luck when purchasing as there was no indication on the packet which figure they would be choosing. That was until hardcore fans started deciphering the barcodes on the back of each pack and were then able to cherry-pick each shop for the rarer and favourite figures. Not surprisingly Lego has decided they will remove unique barcodes from their series 3 release.
With Series 1 all but sold out worldwide, prices are beginning to rise on the secondary market and no doubt the release of series 2 later this year will inject more interest into this inaugural release. Although some parents are resentful of the high prices some figures demand, Lego has been clear from the outset that this is a collectable product, limited in production number, much like the trading card market where collectors buy a packet not knowing what is inside but hoping for a rare card.
For those wondering the scarcity of each particular figure the breakdown for each sealed box from Lego is as follows:3 Hunter3 Cheerleader3 Clown3 Luchador (masked wrestler)3 Nurse3 Zombie3 Skater
4 Robot4 Magician4 Spaceman4 Forestman4 Cowboy4 Caveman
5 Diver5 Ninja5 Dummy
So with those numbers the rarest figures are the Hunter, Cheerleader, Clown, Luchdor, Nurse, Zombie and Skater. Whether they remain the most sought after depends on their popularity with fans and collectors. Judging from chat on Internet forums it seems the most sought after figures aren’t necessarily the rarest, with the Forestman, Zombie and Cheerleader figures garnering most of the love.
It will be interesting to watch the progression of the collectable minifigure market over the next year. One thing is for sure, Lego has a winner on its hands and fans can enjoy the addition of some great figures to their collection.
Inger loves stories and loves to write. As a librarian in a previous life she also has an insatiable thirst for general knowledge. You can visit her latest website which takes a look at the best water play table models for children’s fun and tactile outdoor play including the Step2 Waterwheel Play Table.
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