Catalogs

Here, you will find scans of catalog pages featuring Carnegie Collection models. Examining when different variants appeared in various different catalogs can help determine the production dates of the different models and color variants. The catalog pages will be posted from oldest to newest. Click a page for a larger view.

1988 Safari Brochure (US) - Photo by Joe DeMarco from his digital book "Dinosauriana"

This is one of the earliest catalogs to feature Carnegie Collection dinosaurs, shortly after their initial release. The primary photos feature glossy, intricately detailed models which are almost certainly the original paint masters. Mold lines visible in high-res photos show that these were actual production pieces, though probably painted with extra care for the initial photo sessions. They are very similar to a later set of retail-released models (see below), but have a more intricate and polished look to them which would inevitably be slightly simplified by mass production. Interestingly, the "dull wash" assortment is also here, featured in the lower right hand corner insert showing the Point of Purchase Display. This supports the notion that the dull wash were created as a very early test run of the Carnegie molds, likely before the "official" color schemes were finalized. Dull wash models were on sale in the US prior to any other versions, in at least September of 1988. It is likely the dull wash models were the first production run, possibly made and distributed by Bullyland.

1989 Schleich Toy Fair Catalog (Germany) - photos by stecal from STS Forum

This is one of the earliest catalogs to feature Carnegie Collection dinosaurs, shortly after their initial release. You can see a mixture of the dull wash (large image of Brachiosaurus) and prototype (everything else) versions. Note that it has a new photo of the prehistoric mammals.

1990 Schleich Toy Fair Catalog (Germany) - photos by Dinosaurmountain.net

This catalog continues to feature the 1988/89 diorama photography of the original paint samples. However, it also includes the two "new-for-1990" models - paint masters of Pachycephalosaurus and Deinonychus. These photographs are more similar to the "twilight sand" diorama from the 1990 Safari Ltd. catalog (below). This catalog also contains the "boy in red shirt" photograph that would feature prominently in most 1990s era catalogs and collectors' guides, including one of the earliest appearances of the "classic color" paint variants.

 

1990 Safari Ltd. Catalog (US) - photos by Susanne at STS Forum

This catalog features both Carnegies and Authentics, as well as the first set of Vanishing Wild animal replicas sculpted by David Smith. These three lines appear to be the only ones noted as being "made for Safari" - the rest of the catalog remains dedicated to other animal replica lines which are imported by Safari for US distribution, such as Invicta, Schleich, and AAA. This catalog seems to be the origin of the "twilight sands" diorama, with a white sand base set against a dark blue gradient background. It is similar to the original photo set, but with a darker background. Note that the Brachiosaurus is featured in its classic blue and gray colorway, while some other figures such as Apatosaurus, Allosaurus, and T. rex retain their earlier 1988 gold wash colorways.

 

 

1992 Early Learning Centre Catalog (UK)

This catalog was produced by the ELC stores, which sold Carnegie models in the UK. It was obtained by DTF user Horridus in 1993, but likely dates to 1992 as it does not feature Corythosaurus or the updated Tyrannosaurus mold. Of note, all of the 1988 figures featured here are the 2nd mold group versions, making it among the earliest documentation of those molds. Of especial interest is the fact that this is original photography not reliant on the 1989 white sand photo shoot carried forward in many of Safari's own catalogs and which heavily featured pre-production samples.

1993 Playful International Science and Nature Catalog (US)

This catalog is notable for featuring a prototype version of the 1993 Corythosaurus model alongside several older 1980s-era Carnegie variants. Note that the photos used here are older than the ELC catalog photos from 1992. They use the same Twilight Sands photography set but the lighting appears to be different and some of the models have been swapped with newer colors.

 

1993 Schleich Catalog (Germany)

This catalog is one of the earliest to feature the classic style Carnegies. Interestingly, the Corythosaurus which debuted this year is pictured only as a drawing. Meanwhile, the 1993 Science and Nature catalog (below) showed a prototype model, but still pictured several older versions of the other Carnegie dinosaurs.

1994 Safari Ltd. Dealers' Catalog (US)

This catalog features photos of the rare acrylic step stand, the first appearance of the Dilophosaurus figures, the first appearance of the resculpted T. rex, and the first appearance of the "pink sunset" style photography replacing the old "blue sand dunes" photos. The pink sunset photography would be used throughout the 90s, and is similar to the ELC photography featured above. Note that this seems to be the first official Safari catalog to feature the secondary sculpts that debuted in the 1992 ELC catalog, though curiously not all of them are from that set - the T. rex is the revised sculpt which had replaced the secondary mold in 1993, and the Brachiosaurus is still the original mold in classic colors. One assumes the photographers were just given whatever recent figures Safari had on hand for the photoshoot - though this might also provide evidence for the "overlap" in production between the different molds. Note that the secondary sculpt T. rex is featured in the "new packaging" section, which the newer revised sculpt is featured in the main product image.

1997 Safari Ltd. Dealers' Catalog (US)

1998 Safari Ltd. Dealers' Catalog (US)

This catalog features the debut of Quetzalcoatlus, Baryonyx, and Deltadromeus, along with early appearances of some of the updated molds and repainted variants from the late '90s. Of particular interest are the good photos of Safari store displays. These seem to be re-used, earlier photos based on the figures included in them (nothing from after 1996). Note that in some cases, Safari's photographers mixed multiple different variants together in one display - probably not too different from the situation in stores at that time.

Above: Two different store displays. The one on the right contains models up to and including Dilophosaurus and seems to be from about 1994. The one on the left includes figures up to and including Deinosuchus and Maiasaura w/ Nest, so likely dates to 1996.

2007 Safari Ltd. Catalog (US)

This catalog features the debut of the refreshed Carnegie line, with most of the 1990s models repainted.