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 $1,637, a growth of 579%.
Most valuable 1996 LEGO Basic set
1869 South African Flag $643.89
Largest 1996 LEGO Basic set
1857 Super Value Brick Pack 950 pieces
Most owned 1996 Basic set
628 X-Large Baseplate Grey
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 $37.30
Growth  +43.5%
Annual growth 1.5%

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 2.7%

627 Blue Building Plate

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 1
Availability Retired
627 LEGO Blue Building Plate
Retail $5.49
Value $11.53
Growth  +110.0%
Annual growth 3.1%

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 $21.75
Growth  +45.1%
Annual growth 5.7%

629 Three Building Plates

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 3
Availability Retired
629 LEGO Three Building Plates
Retail $5.49
Value $13.02
Growth  +137.2%
Annual growth 2.1%

630 Brick Separator, Green

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 1
Availability Retired
630 LEGO Brick Separator, Green
Retail $2.49
Value $3.29
Growth  +32.1%

631 Doors and Windows

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 52
Availability Retired
631 LEGO Doors and Windows
Retail $7.49
Value $18.60
Growth  +148.3%
Annual growth 3.3%

632 Wheels and Tyres

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 60
Availability Retired
632 LEGO Wheels and Tyres
Retail $7.49
Value $15.18
Growth  +102.7%
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 $14.70
Growth  +96.3%
Annual growth 2.3%

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 $14.31
Growth  +91.1%
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 $13.68
Growth  +82.6%
Annual growth 1.4%

636 Pull Back Motor

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 14
Availability Retired
636 LEGO Pull Back Motor
Retail $6.49
Value $8.31
Growth  +28.0%
Annual growth 3.5%

637 Play Table

Theme / Subtheme Basic / Supplementaries
Year 1996
Pieces 3
Availability Retired
637 LEGO Play Table
Retail $44.99
Value $296.83
Growth  +559.8%
Annual growth 6.5%

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 $48.98
Growth  +145.0%
Annual growth 3.0%

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 $34.68
Growth  +75.6%
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 $71.59
Growth  +258.1%
Annual growth 11.0%

1777 Plane

Theme / Subtheme Basic / FreeStyle
Year 1996
Pieces 10
Availability Retired
1777 LEGO Plane
promotional
Value $5.86
Annual growth 4.4%

1778 Boat

Theme / Subtheme Basic / FreeStyle
Year 1996
Pieces 9
Availability Retired
1778 LEGO Boat
promotional
Value $4.12
Annual growth 1.3%

1779 Helicopter

Theme / Subtheme Basic / FreeStyle
Year 1996
Pieces 10
Availability Retired
1779 LEGO Helicopter
promotional
Value $3.57
Annual growth 2.2%

1809 Aeroplane

Theme Basic
Year 1996
Pieces 29
Availability Retired
1809 LEGO Aeroplane
promotional
Value $11.05
Annual growth 4.2%

1823 Yacht

Theme / Subtheme Basic / FreeStyle
Year 1996
Pieces 10
Availability Retired
1823 LEGO Yacht
promotional
Value $8.27
Annual growth 4.4%

1857 Super Value Brick Pack

Theme Basic
Year 1996
Pieces 950
Availability Retired
1857 LEGO Super Value Brick Pack
Retail $19.99
Value $137.77
Growth  +589.2%
Annual growth 6.7%

1859 Aeroplane

Theme / Subtheme Basic / FreeStyle
Year 1996
Pieces 9
Availability Retired
1859 LEGO Aeroplane
promotional
Value $1.88
Annual growth 7.4%

1869 South African Flag

Theme Basic
Year 1996
Pieces 80
Availability Retired
1869 LEGO South African Flag
Retail $5.99
Value $643.89
Growth  +10649.4%
Annual growth 8.5%

2100 Souvenir Box

Theme Basic
Year 1996
Availability Retired
2100 LEGO Souvenir Box
Retail $6.99
Value $187.32
Growth  +2579.8%
Annual growth 6.9%