Happy Valentine's Day!
Posted by Huw,
I'm sure those of you with husbands, wives or partners will be well aware that it's Valentine's Day today.
I hope you are spending it with your loved one but if you happen to have a spare five minutes you might find this survey of romance-related LEGO sets an interesting diversion.
The first heart we have in our database is this LEGOLAND California set that was available at the park in 2004. It would have been packaged in a zip-lock bag with this piece of paper showing how to build it.
I do not know if it was produced specially for Valentine's Day but it seems likely.
Set 2008 released in 2008 was not actually a Valentine's set but was produced as an employee Christmas gift that year.
It consists of just 92 basic bricks but if you fancy it for your collection you will need to fork out in the region of £150 on BrickLink for the only one available there.
The following year an identical set in all but number, 2009, was produced for the same purpose. That too commands a hefty price of over £50 on BrickLink.
The next heart to make an appearance was this Monthly Mini Model Build (MMMB) from February 2009.
The MMMB programme had started just a few months earlier: this was the third model.
At that time, the 'sets' were simply tubs of pieces that you helped yourself to in the store, and a small card. For collectors, the value is in the card and some of them that are available on Bricklink will set you back more than you would expect.
LEGO started to regularly release seasonal sets in 1999. However it would take until 2010 for those celebrating events other than Christmas and Easter to appear.
40004, a very simple two-dimensional heart, was the first 'official' Valentine's Day set.
Back in the 2000s LEGOLAND parks used to sell glued roses with stems strengthened by a metal rod. This one, produced in 2010, was the first official one, and also one of the few glued models that LEGO has sold from shop.LEGO.com and brand stores.
At £2.99 / $4.99 it was a bit of a bargain, particularly considering the labour costs of glueing it together.
This rose was the February 2010 Monthly Mini Model Build, the last Valentine's-themed MMMB to be produced.
In 2011 LEGO made two polybag sets for Valentine's Day. 40015, (left) a book, and 40016, bricks and plates with which to construct the letters 'love you'.
I guess the idea of this set was that rather than give it to your Valentine to construct themselves, you would build it and put a photograph or something inside.
2012's 40029 Valentine's Day Box is ideal for when you want to take your relationship to the next level: build it yourself then place the ring inside before popping the question.
2013's 40051 Valentine's Day Heart Box is also perfect for proposing to your favourite AFOL or NAFOL. The top rotates to reveal a space for a ring.
In 2014 the emphasis changed from functional to cute.
This heart-holding bear, 40085, was the first of six equally cute seasonal animals to be produced that year.
This vignette of a couple enjoying a romantic meal for two washed down with, er, water, was the first of six seasonal vignettes released in 2015.
There's no room in the little red box for a real ring but there is space for the somewhat oversized One Ring that the bride-to-be is holding.
If you missed it, read our review of the set here.
This year we have returned to cute animals for the seasonal sets, the first of which is 40201 Valentine's Cupid Dog.
MeganL reviewed the set a few weeks ago and liked it except for its grey ears.
You might just have time to grab one of these if you are passing a LEGO brand store today.
That completes our round up of romantic sets. How many have you given to your Valentine?
Next year we will take a look at wedding-related sets :-)
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13 comments on this article
Well-constructed article!
What's a NAFOL, though?
@Flobnomdob Maybe Not A Fan Of Lego??
Nice article! I still like the vignette the best...
These history-related articles (as well as Brickset tags for that matter) are very helpful and enjoyable, thanks.
@magykfyre Ah yes of course. I forgot about the existence of people like that.
I'm pretty sure my ex would have hated me if I proposed with a LEGO box. However that is the main reason we didn't work. (Not really.) haha
^^ yes, they do exist, surprisingly :-)
Great article. I also like the Paris restaurant for this theme with the couple dining al fresco and the man with the ring
Whilst the day has now become an over-commercialised abomination, you should at least continue referring to it as Saint Valentine's Day, out of respect for its namesake.
Thanks - great article. I built some roses for my better half a few years ago (http://www.wis.co.uk/lego/?p=24). The design isn't mine. If anyone has information about the origin of this design, I would like to know. I don't think it's an official set though.
Valentine schmalentine.
Although 40093-1: Snowman may be cute I am surprised that he is actually an animal...
I dunno... Valentine's Cupid Dog is pretty creepy. :P
Thank you so much for this! I love the history on the items I missed, and my bank account hates you for the eBay links. :-)