Dinosaur Playsets

Book excerpt: Dinosaurs have fascinated people since their discovery over two centuries ago. Perhaps the most endearing of the dinosaur collectibles to many people are the lines of figures and playsets produced by the Louis Marx Toy Company. The figures have attained a near iconic status among collectors of dinosaur toys and memorabilia. Often considered something of a "baby sister" to the Marx dinosaur line is the series of prehistoric figures and playsets put out by the Multiple Products Corporation (MPC) at roughly the same time period. Often confused with one another, the dinosaur output of these two companies has shaped the perception of what these prehistoric beasts were like in the minds of generations of children and adults. Unfortunately, until now there has not been an abundance of detailed information available concerning these popular lines of prehistoric toys, and much of what is out there can be wildly inaccurate, frustrating, and confusing to the beginner and serious collector alike. Written with the novice collector in mind, this book starts at the basics, with brief histories of each company, the mold groupings used for the dinosaur figures, discussions of the figures and accessories themselves, and (most significantly), over 190 full color photographs of every major playset available at this time of writing. This represents the most comprehensive work on the prehistoric playsets of these two companies to date. Information is also presented concerning the various reissue and knock-off sets that were produced by other companies, as well as additional items and games that were directly based on the Marx and/or MPC prehistoric output. Also included is a handy guide to each playset covered in this book, with a listing of its contents, year of production, and model number. This is the book that Marx and MPC dinosaur collectors have been waiting for