LEGO to re-release 5,923-piece Taj Mahal on Cyber Monday 2017 [News]

Today LEGO is announcing that the iconic 10189 Taj Mahal will be re-released as Creator Expert 10256 Taj Mahal. Formerly the long-time record holder for Largest LEGO Set until being dethroned a few months ago by the new UCS Millennium Falcon, this set is still the second-largest LEGO set of all time with 5,923 pieces and will be available on November 27 (aka Cyber Monday) in LEGO stores and from the LEGO Shop Online for $369.99 USD.10256_Box1_v39

Interestingly, the new set contains a single piece more than its predecessor released in 2008, though the model is indistinguishable from its earlier twin. The original Taj Mahal sold at retail for $299.99, so the additional part plus inflation has resulted in a $70 increase since it was available a decade ago. (Looking through TBB archives, the original was once discounted to $249!)

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Widely known as the crown jewel of many LEGO fans’ collections, the Taj Mahal currently commands a premium on the secondary market. News of yet another massive re-release will no doubt send prices into a whirl, as it seems that LEGO is intentionally aiming to rerelease or redesign older, massively popular sets which have garnered outlandish prices (in 2017 alone we’ve already had the UCS Snowspeeder and UCS Millennium Falcon). As of publication, the cheapest unopened Taj Mahal set is selling for $3,000 USD, a price that will no doubt drop dramatically soon.

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2017 will certainly go down in history as the year of big sets, with a version of the top 11 largest LEGO sets ever all available for purchase from LEGO simultaneously by the end of November:

  1. 75192: Millennium Falcon; 7,541 pieces; $799.99 (read our review)
  2. 10256 Taj Mahal; 5,923 pieces; $369.99 (available Nov. 29)
  3. 70620 Ninjago City; 4,867 pieces; $299.99 (read our review)
  4. 75827 Firehouse Headquarters; 4,634 pieces; $349.99 (read our review)
  5. 10214 Tower Bridge; 4,287 pieces; $239.99
  6. 10253 Big Ben; 4,163 pieces; $249.99 (read our review)
  7. 71040 Disney Castle; 4,080 pieces; $349.99 (read our review)
  8. 75159 Death Star; 4,016 pieces; $499.99
  9. 10255 Assembly Square; 4,002 pieces; $279.99 (read our review)
  10. 42055 Bucket Wheel Excavator; 3,929 pieces; $279.99
  11. 70922 Joker Manor; 3,444 pieces; $269.99 (available Nov. 24)

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

10256 Taj Mahal

Ages 16+. 5,923 pieces.
US $369.99 – CA $449.99 – DE 329.99€ – UK £299.99 – DK 2699.00 DKK

Discover the architectural wonder of the Taj Mahal!

Build and discover the Taj Mahal! The huge ivory-white marble mausoleum, renowned as one of the world’s architectural wonders, was commissioned in 1631 by the Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, the Empress Mumtaz Mahal. This relaunched 2008 LEGO® Creator Expert interpretation features the structure’s 4 facades with sweeping arches, balconies and arched windows. The central dome, subsidiary domed chambers and surrounding minarets are topped with decorative finials, and the raised platform is lined with recessed arches. The model is finished with ornate detailing throughout and intricate tilework around the base. With more than 5,900 pieces, this set is designed to deliver a rewarding building experience and makes a great display piece for the home or office.

  • LEGO® interpretation of the real-world architectural wonder, the Taj Mahal.
  • Relaunched 2008 model, featuring 4 facades with arches and arched windows; central dome, 4 subsidiary domed chambers and 4 minarets, all topped with decorative finials; raised platform lined with recessed arches; ornate detailing throughout; and intricate tilework around the base.
  • Divides into 7 modular sections for easier transportation.
  • Put your LEGO® building skills to the test with one of the largest LEGO models ever created
  • Special elements include 6 blue 16×32 baseplates, white 1x5x4 bricks with bow, lots of transparent elements, ‘Erling’ bricks and ‘jumper’ plates.
  • Measures over 16” (43cm) high, 20” (51cm) wide and 20” (51cm) deep.

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17 comments on “LEGO to re-release 5,923-piece Taj Mahal on Cyber Monday 2017 [News]”

  3. Reaven Veaceslav

    So it’s going to be released for one day, and inevitably be sold out after 10 minutes once the Store site stops crashing? This sounds like it’s going to end up the same way the Falcon release did.

    What fun.

  4. Dave Schefcik Post author

    I am under the impression it will be available for more than just Cyber Monday. It just happens that day is the first day of availability and will likely sell out quickly.

  5. AL

    Very disappointing! They need to stop re-launching old sets. That ruins the value of the originals. I you didn’t get one the first time around, tough. And yes, there are many sets I missed out on, but I would never want them recreated. If I really want it, I should have to pay the premium, that is the whole point of them becoming collector items. Re-launching ruins that. They did the same with one of the xmas sets, a new carousel, the falcon and now this. Soon they will re-launch corner cafe

  6. alabasterspoon

    One of the unique features I enjoyed about buying and collecting lego sets was the fact that each set was only available once. Seems like soon you will be able to order any set past or present and the collecting of set will be a thing of the past.

  7. opinion.keeper

    @AL: This is the most idiotic thing I’ve heard online in a while, and that’s saying something. Why would they not re-release or remake popular sets if they think people would buy them? That makes literally zero sense as a business. They’re here to make money, and this makes them money. Also, the mentality that if someone couldn’t get a set when it first came out (cause, you know, some people started liking LEGO when they were kids and didn’t exactly have $300+ to spend on a set) then they should have to pay ridiculous mark ups to people online is just greedy. You kind of sound like you’re sitting on top of a bunch of old sets to sell and are just afraid the bottom is going to drop out of the secondary market.

  8. Purple Dave

    @opinion.keeper:

    Remember a line called Legends? It was made up of vintage sets that were rereleased. Sometimes changes had to be made due to older elements having been retired, but the core designs were taken directly from the old version. It apparently flopped, because they dropped it like a lead brick before it had been out a full year. Turns out there are tons of people who want old sets. They just can’t agree on _which_ old sets they want. They also have to pass up a ton of new sets because there’s just too much for most people to buy, and adding vintage sets onto the pile doesn’t make the pile more affordable.

  9. Jordan Perry

    Lego does not care about the pile of discontinued mint sets you have stored away as your retirement plan. They aren’t selling collectibles to collectors, they are selling toys to kids.

    The good news is that you probably can still sell your old Taj Mahal for considerably above the old MSRP, so you’ll still come out ahead if you bought them when they were in production. If you paid an inordinate sum of money from a re-seller, that’s not Lego’s fault.

    Now, if Lego put out a limited edition product and marketed it as a collectible (CMFs, for example), I’d be more inclined to side with you, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.

    Just like the Stock Market, investing in anything as a collectible with the intent of reselling it carries some amount of risk. Ask anyone who bought Beanie Babies, haha.

  11. Garrett

    That top 11 list is incorrect. The 10188 Death Star of 2008 surpasses Joker Manor, with 3,803 pieces.

  12. Purple Dave

    @Garrett:

    The list is apparently only meant to include the most recent of any particular subject. The third largest set ever made is the first UCS Millennium Falcon, which is also not on this list. The largest is the new UCSMF, which is the one they included. Likewise, there’s a newer Death Star playset, so that’s at #8.

  13. Rev1964

    I am very happy about this. I got into LEGO as a stress reliever within the past year. I love the look of this set but couldn’t afford the $4000 someone was asking on Amazon. I have a lot of VIP points (I got addicted quickly), so I am really looking forward to November 27!

  14. Purple Dave

    @Rev1964:
    I think double-points will only apply for Brick Friday Preview weekend (which is a week earlier), but there are two things to keep in mind when hoarding VIP points for large purchases:

    1. VIP points expire. I think you get two years from the date they’re earned to unload them or they vanish. Oldest points get spent first, so if you save them up to make one big purchase around the same time every year, any unspent points will be less than a year old and will be the first to go when you make your next big purchase.

    2. Unless they’re about to expire, never spend VIP points during double-points promotions. Points spent are deducted from the sale price before new points are awarded, so for every $100 in points you redeem you’ll usually miss out on earning $5. During double-points, you miss out on earning $10, so buying during double-points and holding off on spending points until a later date will earn you more VIP points to spend.

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