In 1996, LEGO released 25 Basic sets across 2 subthemes, all of these sets have been retired. Subthemes for that year included FreeStyle and Supplementaries. For that year, the total price of all retail sets cost $241, today those sets are valued around $1,506, a growth of 525%.
Most valuable 1996 LEGO Basic set
1869 South African Flag $659.23
Largest 1996 LEGO Basic set
1857 Super Value Brick Pack 950 pieces
Most owned 1996 Basic set
626 Building Plate, Green
25 sets

624 Basic Motor, 9V

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 27
Availability Retired
624 LEGO Basic Motor, 9V
Retail $25.99
Value $37.44
Growth  +44.1%
Annual growth 1.6%

626 Building Plate, Green

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 1
Availability Retired
626 LEGO Building Plate, Green
Retail $4.99
Value $9.14
Growth  +83.2%
Annual growth 2.4%

627 Blue Building Plate

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 1
Availability Retired
627 LEGO Blue Building Plate
Retail $5.49
Value $11.71
Growth  +113.3%
Annual growth 3.2%

628 X-Large Baseplate Grey

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 1
Availability Retired
628 LEGO X-Large Baseplate Grey
Retail $14.99
Value $25.38
Growth  +69.3%
Annual growth 6.2%

629 Three Building Plates

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 3
Availability Retired
629 LEGO Three Building Plates
Retail $5.49
Value $19.80
Growth  +260.7%
Annual growth 2.3%

630 Brick Separator, Green

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 1
Availability Retired
630 LEGO Brick Separator, Green
Retail $2.49
Value $3.00
Growth  +20.5%

631 Doors and Windows

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 52
Availability Retired
631 LEGO Doors and Windows
Retail $7.49
Value $18.76
Growth  +150.5%
Annual growth 3.4%

632 Wheels and Tyres

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 60
Availability Retired
632 LEGO Wheels and Tyres
Retail $7.49
Value $15.29
Growth  +104.1%
Annual growth 2.4%

633 Roof Tiles

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 50
Availability Retired
633 LEGO Roof Tiles
Retail $7.49
Value $16.15
Growth  +115.6%
Annual growth 2.6%

634 Extra Bricks in Red

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 62
Availability Retired
634 LEGO Extra Bricks in Red
Retail $7.49
Value $14.30
Growth  +90.9%
Annual growth 2.2%

635 Extra Bricks in White

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 62
Availability Retired
635 LEGO Extra Bricks in White
Retail $7.49
Value $13.02
Growth  +73.8%
Annual growth 1.3%

636 Pull Back Motor

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 14
Availability Retired
636 LEGO Pull Back Motor
Retail $6.49
Value $8.42
Growth  +29.7%
Annual growth 3.6%

637 Play Table

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 3
Availability Retired
637 LEGO Play Table
Retail $44.99
Value $234.89
Growth  +422.1%
Annual growth 5.7%

638 Lots of Extra Basic Bricks

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 404
Availability Retired
638 LEGO Lots of Extra Basic Bricks
Retail $19.99
Value $49.39
Growth  +147.1%
Annual growth 3.1%

639 Lots of Extra Basic Bricks

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 400
Availability Retired
639 LEGO Lots of Extra Basic Bricks
Retail $19.75
Value $34.87
Growth  +76.6%
Annual growth 1.9%

1776 Bonus Value Bucket

Theme Basic
Year 1996
Pieces 950
Availability Retired
1776 LEGO Bonus Value Bucket
Retail $19.99
Value $74.54
Growth  +272.9%
Annual growth 11.7%

1777 Plane

Theme / Subtheme Basic / FreeStyle
Year 1996
Pieces 10
Availability Retired
1777 LEGO Plane
promotional
Value $5.51
Annual growth 4.6%

1778 Boat

Theme / Subtheme Basic / FreeStyle
Year 1996
Pieces 9
Availability Retired
1778 LEGO Boat
promotional
Value $4.18
Annual growth 1.3%

1779 Helicopter

Theme / Subtheme Basic / FreeStyle
Year 1996
Pieces 10
Availability Retired
1779 LEGO Helicopter
promotional
Value $4.64
Annual growth 2.1%

1809 Aeroplane

Theme Basic
Year 1996
Pieces 29
Availability Retired
1809 LEGO Aeroplane
promotional
Value $15.96
Annual growth 2.4%

1823 Yacht

Theme / Subtheme Basic / FreeStyle
Year 1996
Pieces 10
Availability Retired
1823 LEGO Yacht
promotional
Value $5.18
Annual growth 4.6%

1857 Super Value Brick Pack

Theme Basic
Year 1996
Pieces 950
Availability Retired
1857 LEGO Super Value Brick Pack
Retail $19.99
Value $75.00
Growth  +275.2%
Annual growth 4.5%

1859 Aeroplane

Theme / Subtheme Basic / FreeStyle
Year 1996
Pieces 9
Availability Retired
1859 LEGO Aeroplane
promotional
Value $1.89
Annual growth 7.5%

1869 South African Flag

Theme Basic
Year 1996
Pieces 80
Availability Retired
1869 LEGO South African Flag
Retail $5.99
Value $659.23
Growth  +10905.5%
Annual growth 8.5%

2100 Souvenir Box

Theme Basic
Year 1996
Availability Retired
2100 LEGO Souvenir Box
Retail $6.99
Value $148.59
Growth  +2025.8%
Annual growth 6.1%