If you have been around the LEGO community for a while you have probably heard of Gary Istok. Gary is the undisputed authority on LEGO’s history – especially the early history of the company. Gary frequents many of the LEGO forums and blogs, sharing his incredible knowledge, and answering questions no-one else can. (Gary is a contributor here as well. Read his contributor’s page here: Gary Istok). If you ever have any questions about the history of the LEGO Company, he is the person to turn to.
Gary produced a DVD that includes extremely detailed info on all aspects of LEGO’s past, and he just released a new and updated version with even more info. If you are interested in the story and timeline of the LEGO Company, if you are a collector, or if you just want to know where some old LEGO you found came from, this is a must. Below are the stats:
UNOFFICIAL LEGO SETS/PARTS COLLECTORS GUIDE
(1949-1990) by Gerhard R. Istok
➡ 2,800 pages of information on LEGO sets from 1949-1990s. Information on LEGO parts from 1949-1980 (newer parts are well represented at BrickLink and Peeron.
➡ The guide has 1/3 million words, over 6,000 historic images, 73 chapters, 4 appendices, and thousands of things most people never knew about LEGO. There are 5 links to online websites (LEGO Commercials, LEGO company history, LEGO brick types, etc.).
➡ The download version can be obtained within 24 hours without shipping and customs. The Billund Archives, Collections and Vault helped with this project, and in return, I gave them many items that they had no knowledge of – since LEGO Norway, Sweden, USA and Canada often did their own thing without letting TLG Denmark know. 😎
➡ The download makes a nice desktop document, which will have future (free) updates, as new (old) LEGO items are discovered.
➡ Price is $29.95 (only for download)… plus shipping ($2.00 USA, $3.00 Canada, and $3.50 rest of world).
If you would like to buy the Collectors Guide – either the DVD (with shipping) or just the download (no shipping charges & no custom fees) – go to Gary’s website: LEGOCollectorsGuide.com
The images used here are from the LEGO Collector’s Guide, many of which were even unknown to The LEGO Group. You can also check out a sample chapter of the DVD here: LEGO Collectors Guide Sample Chapter
For Gary putting together this new version of the DVD was a labor of love… and also a labor of pain. He lost his mother at 88 (whom he’s been the primary caregiver for 11 years through 5 cancers), he’s lost his employment and income, he’s lost his house, and for the first time in his life he’s gone through long periods of depression… but it was the work on this LEGO project that really kept him going… pushing on through the obstacles to serve the LEGO community with an important legacy.
Gary Istok and his mom before she became ill.
I would highly recommend getting the download version of the DVD as you would get it much faster and will also get updates. And if you have any questions for Gary about the LEGO Collectors Guide or LEGO’s history, feel free to ask in the comment section below. 😉
