Thomás Valle has more than 50,000 pieces of the famous plastic blocks which, over time, increase in value: “The collection is valued at R$ 50,000”
While many have invested in puzzles and other hobbies, such as chess or board games, Thomás Valle, a 33-year-old civil engineer from Minas Gerais, discovered a new passion during the covid-19 pandemic. Unable to leave the house, he started buying Lego sets – that famous company that produces plastic blocks – and ended up becoming a collector of a hobby which, although not very cheap, helped him get through his prison term .
What started out as a hobby, however, ended up making Thomás a collector. Even after the covid he continued to buy sets, assemble them and share them on social networks, becoming a sort of Lego ‘influencer’. “Sitting down, assembling a Lego is very pleasant, it’s a therapy, in fact; the best thing for me,” he said in an interview with Terra.
The collector’s collection began by accident, after a friend bought a set of the Millennium Falcon, a ship from Star Wars, available on the company’s website for R $ 8,700. “At the time I thought it was crazy, I would never pay that amount,” he said. The idea, however, stuck with Thomás. Also passionate about cars, he ended up entering this universe once and for all when he bought a Land Rover Defender made of Lego, a set that exceeds the value of R $ 2 thousand.
“I loved it, so I got excited and bought more,” she explains. “When I was a child, Lego sets were simpler, today there is a great variety, with collaborations with brands or franchises of films and series, different types of cars, and I am passionate about cars,” adds Thomás, who has already 17 LEGO cars in his collection.
Expenses and appreciations
The collector estimates that he has already spent more than R$ 40,000 buying sets that now decorate the wall of his house. It looks like an expense, but it can later become an investment. This is because, as Lego sets are discontinued, they start to appreciate as they are no longer available on the market.
“I believe my collection is now worth around R$50,000,” says Thomás, who expects that value to increase over time.
The collector monitors his entire collection on a specific site for Lego fans, who follow the appreciation of their sets. “There I can see when my collection is doing well, because when sets go off line the price usually goes up. It also varies with the condition of the set, whether it’s sealed, sealed with a damaged box, well kept, and so on.”
“I have more than 50,000 Lego pieces, in 27 sets that I’ve already assembled, and 98 minifigures,” Thomás explains, citing the small figures the company produces.
The rarest item in his collection, by the way, is a minifigure. “I’m Luke Skywalker [personagem de Star Wars], which was only released in conjunction with a Lego video game. The minifigure came with the deluxe version of the game, which was limited,” he says. “Today, this minifigure must be worth around US$100 (equivalent to R$517).”
The most expensive item in his collection is a Titanic made entirely of Lego, which costs more than R$6,000 but is worth every penny according to him. “I put together the set, which has over 9,000 pieces, in just three days. It was a lot of fun.”
The favorites of his collection, however, are still the cars. Among his favorites are a Batmobile and the iconic DeLorean, from the film franchise Back to the Futurewhich always appear in collector’s publications.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
