In 1988 LEGO released 9 Duplo sets across 2 subthemes. The largest Duplo set from 1988 was
1544 Duplo Building Set with a piece count of 55 and a retail price of $18.50. The current estimated value of all these Duplo sets from this year is about $1,001.14.
The LEGO DUPLO theme was introduced as far back as 1969 and is designed for children ages 1 to 5. It features DUPLO figures which are much larger than minifigures and DUPLO blocks which are about twice the length, width, and height of a standard System brick. Like LEGO System, DUPLO also has subthemes that are often junior versions of System themes, like Pirates and Castle and licensed themes like Disney and Super Heros.
1988 LEGO Sets
In 1988, LEGO continued to expand and solidify its position as a leading toy manufacturer. The year witnessed the continuation of popular themes and the introduction of new ones. One of the notable introductions was the LEGO Pirates theme, which brought a fresh adventure concept to the LEGO world, complete with pirates, soldiers, island settings, and unique elements like the iconic LEGO pirate ship. This theme was groundbreaking as it included new minifigure facial expressions, departing from the classic smiley face to showcase more character-specific emotions. Meanwhile, the company maintained its commitment to educational products, with the DUPLO line catering to younger children and Technic sets offering more intricate building challenges for older fans.