In 1969 LEGO released 2 Duplo sets. The largest Duplo set from 1969 was
511 Building Set with a piece count of 27 and a retail price of $2.75. The current estimated value of all these Duplo sets from this year is about $501.23.
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.
1969 LEGO Sets
With increased international expansion and sale increases, by 1969 the number of people employed by LEGO in Billund reached 843. In 1969 LEGO revisits the pre-school block and develops the fully compatible DUPLO System. It was the basis of a complete line of toys for a market previously untapped by the company: newborns through 6 years old, however in the US Samsonite entered this market with their Jumbo Bricks in previous years. LEGO also introduced a new series of red train wheels with spokes, increasing their new train systems. 1969 brought with it numerous new sets, to date, one of the largest set releases thus far, still, the primary driver of new sets was the Trains theme.