This is a 2x4 Italian LEGO® Minitalia Brick in Collectible Packaging. The packaging was made by Atlanta Brick Co.
In the 1960’s, LEGO® Sets were much more popular in the cooler climates of Northern Europe than the warmer temperatures of Italy. Italy had a different economy which didn’t spend as much money on indoor toys. To increase sales, The LEGO® Group created Minitalia exclusively for the Italian market. To lower the cost of the bricks, LEGO® did not use the Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, ABS Plastic that they use on their normal bricks. Instead they used a more affordable plastic called High Impact Polystyrene, or HIPS. This is the same material the LEGO® baseplate is made of. Minitalia sets were produced in Denmark and cost approximately half the price of a normal LEGO® Set. Besides being made of a different plastic, Minitalia elements did not say LEGO® on them like traditional LEGO® elements. It is believed that LEGO® may have been using Minitalia as a test market for new elements and designs such as the opening door, two window models, arches, shutters and slope 33 elements which all got their start in Minitalia sets. Instead of the tube system found on the bottom of LEGO® Bricks, Minitalia had an X system. The X system had internal sidebars and thinner walls which LEGO® eventually used in their modern bricks. Since Minitilia elements do not say LEGO® on them, they have often been discarded as knock-offs and because of this and their limited production of 21 unique sets, they are considered rare and collectible!
Bricks are used and may show signs of playwear. Each brick is sold separately.
This is a 2x4 Italian LEGO® Minitalia Brick in Collectible Packaging. The packaging was made by Atlanta Brick Co.
In the 1960’s, LEGO® Sets were much more popular in the cooler climates of Northern Europe than the warmer temperatures of Italy. Italy had a different economy which didn’t spend as much money on indoor toys. To increase sales, The LEGO® Group created Minitalia exclusively for the Italian market. To lower the cost of the bricks, LEGO® did not use the Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, ABS Plastic that they use on their normal bricks. Instead they used a more affordable plastic called High Impact Polystyrene, or HIPS. This is the same material the LEGO® baseplate is made of. Minitalia sets were produced in Denmark and cost approximately half the price of a normal LEGO® Set. Besides being made of a different plastic, Minitalia elements did not say LEGO® on them like traditional LEGO® elements. It is believed that LEGO® may have been using Minitalia as a test market for new elements and designs such as the opening door, two window models, arches, shutters and slope 33 elements which all got their start in Minitalia sets. Instead of the tube system found on the bottom of LEGO® Bricks, Minitalia had an X system. The X system had internal sidebars and thinner walls which LEGO® eventually used in their modern bricks. Since Minitilia elements do not say LEGO® on them, they have often been discarded as knock-offs and because of this and their limited production of 21 unique sets, they are considered rare and collectible!
Bricks are used and may show signs of playwear. Each brick is sold separately.
About our Parts
