It has become a Christmas tradition that LEGO employees receive a very special set from the company. These exclusive sets have been particularly noteworthy in the past three years, as they are quite substantial with unique models that aren’t released to the public. While most of these sets remain the treasured possessions of LEGO employees, some of them make it to the secondary market like eBay and BrickLink, where collectors eagerly grab them while they are still available. 🙂
In 2014 LEGO employees received the #4002014 LEGO HUB Birds with 487 pieces to build five beautiful birds; one for each national bird from countries where the LEGO hub offices are located. They include a Robin from Britain, a Red-Crowned Crane from China, a Crimson Sunbird from Singapore, a Swan from Denmark, and a Bald Eagle from the USA. This set is especially interesting, as the #21301 LEGO Ideas Birds set was released shortly after – LEGO designers must have been really into birds that year! You can still find the set on eBay for around $150-$200. Here are some of the current listings: LEGO HUB BIRDS ON EBAY
In 2015 LEGO employees received the #4002015 LEGO Borkum Riffgrund 1 with 559 pieces. The set commemorates the opening of the sixth offshore wind power plant by Siemens, which supplies 320,000 German households with eco-friendly electricity (you can read more on Siemens’ website). This set is also available on eBay for around $150. Here are some of the current listings: LEGO BORKUM RIFFGRUND 1 ON EBAY
LEGO employees in 2016 must have been really good, because Santa brought them the largest gift of all; the #4002016 LEGO 50 Years on Track set with 1141 pieces. It includes smaller replicas of six different trains from the long history of LEGO locomotives on brick-built tracks; a Motorized Train Set from 1966, a Western Train from 1976, a Metroliner from 1991, a sample of the Monorail Transport System from 1987, the Emerald Night from 2009, and the Winter Holiday Train from 2016. This set is a must for LEGO train fans and collectors, as it brings back some of the most popular trains from LEGO’s history. And it’s not just the trains; the box itself is a beautifully designed commemorative item. I’m not a fan of keeping sets in boxes, but this might be worth keeping intact, as it is unique in so many ways; the largest LEGO employee gift to date, a tribute to 50 years of LEGO history, and it got six trains! It is available on eBay for around $250-$300. Here are some of the current listings: LEGO 50 YEARS ON TRACK ON EBAY
If you would like to add something exclusive to your LEGO collection that not many people have, or even know about, the LEGO employee gifts are definitely worth to consider. While the prices are higher than normal LEGO sets, they are not unreasonable given the rarity. From the three sets the one with commemorative trains is the most special, so if you can only get one set, I would recommend that one. But all of them are very unique, nicely designed, and beautifully boxed, so I don’t think you would be disappointed.
What do you think? How do you like the 2016 LEGO employee gift? Do you have any on them from previous years? Which one is your favorite so far? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below! 😉
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