In the quaint town of Billund, Denmark, nestled among the rolling landscapes and vibrant community, stands a house that is more than just a building. It's a symbol of creativity, innovation, and the humble beginnings of a global phenomenon. This is the house of Ole Kirk Christiansen, the visionary founder of LEGO, a name that resonates with children and adults alike, symbolizing endless possibilities through the simple snap of interlocking bricks. Ole Kirk's story is one of resilience, ingenuity, and the belief that "only the best is good enough," a motto that has propelled LEGO from a small carpenter's workshop to a global empire of imagination.
It is within this historical context that LEGO paid tribute to its roots through the creation of two exclusive sets, each encapsulating the essence and legacy of Ole Kirk's original dwelling. The first, released during the LEGO Inside Tour in June 2009, was a highly exclusive set limited to just 32 hand-numbered copies. Known as the LEGO Inside Tour Ole Kirk's House, this 910-piece set offered attendees of the tour a unique memento, a tangible piece of LEGO history. The tour itself is a revered event, providing LEGO enthusiasts with a rare glimpse into the company's heart, from design to production, culminating in a visit to Ole Kirk's actual house, now a beacon of LEGO's enduring legacy.
This initial version was so exclusive that it did not initially carry a set number, a detail that was rectified in 2012 when the model was reissued under the set number 4000007 as a Christmas gift for LEGO employees. Despite the identical piece count and design, the reissue stirred emotions within the collector community, given its broader distribution compared to the original's extremely limited run.
The second version, 4000007 LEGO Ole Kirk's House, released in December 2012, replicated the charm and historical significance of the 2009 set but was made available to a wider audience within the LEGO employee community. This set, also comprising 910 pieces, was a nod to the company's tradition of gifting unique sets to its employees during the holiday season, a practice that underscores LEGO's appreciation for its workforce and its heritage. The set's packaging differed from its predecessor, featuring a black and white image of the original house on the back, along with historical snapshots of Denmark during Ole Kirk's era, providing a contextual backdrop to the significance of the set.
Both versions of Ole Kirk's House, despite their differences in distribution and packaging, share a common thread in their faithful representation of the original house in Billund. They stand as a tribute to Ole Kirk Christiansen's legacy, embodying the values and history of the LEGO brand. For collectors and fans, these sets are not just models but pieces of history, connecting them directly to the origins of a brand that has sparked creativity and imagination across generations. While the LEGO Inside Tour version remains one of the rarest and most sought-after collectibles, the 2012 reissue serves as a more accessible yet equally cherished emblem of LEGO's storied past.
The LEGO Inside Tour Ole Kirk's House
The LEGO Inside Tour Ole Kirk's House, released on June 17, 2009, stands as a remarkable testament to the LEGO Group's rich heritage and its founder's legacy. This exclusive 910-piece set, unveiled as a part of the coveted LEGO Inside Tour, offered a rare glimpse into the personal history of Ole Kirk Christiansen, the visionary behind the LEGO brand. With only 32 hand-numbered copies produced, this set achieved an almost mythical status among LEGO enthusiasts. Each of these limited editions was a meticulous recreation of Ole Kirk's original house in Billund, Denmark, crafted with a level of detail and reverence that spoke volumes of the LEGO Group's commitment to its roots. The uniqueness of this set was further amplified by its distribution method; it was not available for purchase but was a special gift to attendees of the 2009 Inside Tour, making it a highly sought-after collector's item.
The Inside Tour itself is an exclusive event that offers LEGO aficionados an unparalleled behind-the-scenes look at the company's operations. Over two and a half days, participants are immersed in the world of LEGO, from its design studios to the bustling factory floors, culminating in a visit to the historic home of Ole Kirk Christiansen. It was during this tour that participants were presented with the LEGO Ole Kirk's House set, a tangible connection to the company's humble beginnings. Unlike typical LEGO sets, the boxes for this exclusive model were not sealed, allowing owners to inspect their contents while keeping the individual parts bags intact and sealed. This attention to detail extended to the set's presentation, with many boxes hand-signed by the designer, adding a personal touch that further elevated its collectible status.
Initially, this set was not assigned a specific set number, a detail that was only rectified in 2012 when the model was reissued as 4000007 for LEGO employees, making the original Inside Tour versions even more distinctive. The extremely limited production run of just 32 copies, coupled with the set's historical significance and the intimate experience of the Inside Tour, positioned the LIT2009 Ole Kirk's House as one of the rarest and most coveted LEGO sets to ever emerge from Billund. For the most ardent LEGO collectors, acquiring one of these exclusive sets is akin to holding a piece of LEGO history in their hands, a symbol of both the brand's past and the enduring legacy of its founder.
What is the current value of the LEGO Inside Tour Ole Kirk's House (LIT2009)?
LEGO Employee Gift Ole Kirk's House 4000007
In December 2012, LEGO extended it's annual gesture of appreciation towards its employees with the release of 4000007 LEGO Ole Kirk's House, a 910-piece set that replicated the original abode of Ole Kirk Christiansen in Billund, Denmark. This special edition set was not just a model; it was a bridge to the past, connecting employees to the foundational story of the company's inception. As a Christmas gift, this set was a heartfelt acknowledgment of the team's contributions, embodying the spirit of the season and the LEGO legacy. Unlike its predecessor from the 2009 LEGO Inside Tour, this version was made available to a broader audience within the LEGO family, allowing more individuals to own a piece of the company's history.
The reissue of the Ole Kirk's House set stirred mixed emotions within the LEGO community. While it was a cherished gift for employees, some collectors expressed discontent over the re-release of such an exclusive design. This sentiment underscored the delicate balance between exclusivity and accessibility that characterizes limited edition sets. The packaging of the employee gift version set itself apart from the original Inside Tour release, featuring distinct artwork that included a black and white image of Ole Kirk's actual house and historical snapshots of Denmark, providing a contextual backdrop that enriched the building experience.
LEGO's tradition of gifting exclusive sets to employees at Christmas is a testament to the company's culture of appreciation and recognition. These sets, not available through conventional retail channels, become coveted items in the aftermarket, sought after by enthusiasts aiming to complete their collections. The 4000007 Ole Kirk's House is more than just a model; it's a narrative piece, encapsulating the essence of LEGO's heritage and the personal story of its founder. The set's design, a simple yet evocative representation of the bright red building, now a site for LEGO exhibitions, offers builders a tangible connection to the company's roots, further enriched by the shared experience of assembly, first by the privileged few of the Inside Tour and then by the wider LEGO employee community.
What is the current value of Ole Kirk's House 4000007?
The Legacy of Ole Kirk Christiansen
Ole Kirk Christiansen, the revered founder of LEGO, was a visionary craftsman whose legacy is built upon the foundational bricks of creativity, resilience, and innovation. Born in 1891 in Filskov, Denmark, Christiansen embarked on his journey as a humble carpenter, crafting wooden household items and toys in his small workshop in Billund. The name "LEGO," derived from the Danish phrase "leg godt," meaning "play well," epitomizes Christiansen's philosophy that play is an essential aspect of children's development and learning. This ethos, underpinned by his commitment to quality and excellence, guided LEGO's evolution from wooden toys to the iconic plastic bricks that have become synonymous with imaginative play worldwide.
The significance of Ole Kirk Christiansen to the LEGO brand and the broader world of toys cannot be overstated. His pioneering spirit in the face of adversity, including the Great Depression and a devastating factory fire, is a testament to his resilience and unwavering belief in the power of play. Christiansen's introduction of the interlocking brick system in 1958 was a groundbreaking innovation that transformed LEGO from a small Danish company into a global empire of creativity. This system, with its unique ability for endless construction possibilities, laid the foundation for what LEGO has become today: a tool for learning, imagination, and expression across all ages.
Christiansen's legacy is not just in the products his company created but in the values and culture he instilled in LEGO. "Only the best is good enough," the motto he lived by, continues to drive the company's commitment to quality and creativity. Ole Kirk Christiansen's story is one of turning simple ideas into profound impacts, demonstrating that with imagination and determination, even the smallest of bricks can build the most magnificent of worlds. His influence extends beyond the realm of toys, inspiring generations to innovate, create, and, most importantly, to play well.