Dear Reader
Over the past six decades, the Lego brick has become a familiar and cherished toy, inspiring play and learning all over the world. I'm sure you can recall happy childhood memories playing with Lego bricks. You may even remember the sets you received as gifts and who you got them from-or the sets you really, really wanted but never received.
Great Lego sets: A Visual History will take you and your family on a journey down memory lane. There simply weren't enough pages to show the numbers Lego sets we have designed and launched since 1955, but this book is a celebration of a selection of the most interesting and loved Lego sets ever produced. We hope that reading about these sets and poring over the pictures will unlock your store memories, whether you are aged six or sixty-six.
We also hope that the book provides inspiration for building new models with the Lego bricks you already have at home. The possibilities are endless, and each day - together with your family and friends - you can build something new. If you're a grown-up, perhaps your Lego bricks are still somewhere in your parents' house? Be inspired, go and dig them out! Lego elements are a timeline material - you'll find that they are fully compatible with the bricks we make today.
The intention behind the Lego System of Play was to "create a toy that prepares the child for life, appeals to the imagination, and develops the creative urge and joy of creation that are the driving forces in every human being."
That idea is still our guiding principle, and it is just as exciting as ever to open a box and start building - or to bring out your Lego brick collection, spread it across the floor, and give your imagination and creativity free rein to build your own unique model.
Enjoy!
Jette Orduna
Head of Lego Idea House in Billund, Denmark