History's Best Selling Toys of 1951

From coast to coast, 1951 saw a swell surge of mid-century craze and suburban optimism in the world of toys! Leading the charge were mighty, top-selling marvels like Paint-by-Numbers Kit and Colorforms, capturing the public’s fancy in grand fashion. Distinguished creators from industry leaders like Palmer Paint Company and Colorforms proved their mettle with essential classics, delivering craftsmanship that became sensational mainstays in post-war American homes. Step right up and inspect our complete, rank-ordered historical archive below!

1. Paint-by-Numbers Kit

   Released in 1951 by Palmer Paint Company

   On February 1, 1951, at the bustling New York Toy Fair, a new form of creative expression was introduced to the world: the Craft Master Paint-by-Numbers kit. This debut marked the national launch of a product that would define a decade's approach to hobby and leisure. In the post-war 1950s, a time of economic prosperity and burgeoning suburban life, there was a growing desire for accessible creative outlets. The Paint-by-Numbers kit perfectly met this need, promising anyone the ability to create a frame-worthy masterpiece. Its presentation on this date to toy and hobby buyers was the crucial first step in transforming a simple concept into a multi-million dollar cultural phenomenon that would soon hang on the walls of homes across America.

2. Colorforms

   Released in 1951 by Colorforms

   On January 1, 1951, the world of children's play was quietly revolutionized with the commercial debut of Colorforms. Launched by art students Harry and Patricia Kislevitz, this new toy entered a post-war American market hungry for innovation and new forms of creative expression for its booming population of children. Colorforms was unlike anything else available; it wasn't a doll, a model car, or a construction set. It was a simple, yet ingenious, system of colorful vinyl shapes that could be stuck and re-stuck onto a glossy surface, offering endless possibilities for imaginative play without glue, scissors, or mess. This date marks the beginning of a brand that would become a household name and a staple of childhood for generations.