1985
Majesty, Spike and Dream Castle
Majesty, Spike, and Dream Castle, laid out
based on the UK box (1985)
Majesty, Spike, and Dream Castle, laid out
based on the UK box (1985)
| search engine by freefind | advanced |
| Pony Data | |
|---|---|
| Set | The Dream Castle Playset (US: 1983-5, UK: 1985-7, some parts of Europe 1988) sold with Majesty and Spike the Dragon (Worldwide, including UK) |
| Asst. Number | ? |
| Accessories | Blue mirror, blue throne, blue jewel box, pink
throne blanket, purple streamers, two blue goblets,
yellow table, four golden horseshoes, shoe box, basket
and winch for Spike, purple cape, turret flags, damsel
hat with ribbons, yellow crown, flower brush (blue or
yellow) |
| Pose | Glory |
| Distribution | Worldwide (and then some!) |
| Other Versions | A lavender version of Dream Castle was sold in North
America with no pony accompaniment. Majesty and Spike were both offered through Mail Order in North America later on; This Spike had larger eyes. |
Although a very early playset in North America, Dream Castle
didn't get here right away. It took until 1985 for it to be
released in the UK. The box had to be redesigned to suit the UK
market, removing Sunbeam
and Glory and
replacing them with Posey, Bow Tie and Windy, all ponies
available here in 1985. Although the castle continued to be sold
in subsequent years, the box was not updated after this point.
All UK castles were sold in the box shown below.
Because the playset continued to be sold over several years, it
is not uncommon to see minor variations in the playset
accessories. The yellow and blue accessories can be dark or
light in colour, both are normal. There are also some variations
on the brush sold with the castle. Some releases had a blue
flower brush, some yellow (as pictured). There are also
suggestions of a third brush type here but this is unproven.
The set was definitely available until 1987, as it appeared in
the Argos catalogue from 1985-1987. Some collector memory
indicates it may have stayed around into 1988, but this has not
been verified.
The UK Dream Castle Box, 1985
Aside Dream Castle's earlier release in North America, the castle also saw release in many other countries, especially across Europe. The timeline for this is difficult to plot, although some report it being a later release playset (possibly with Chinese Majesty, see below). It is likely that Dream Castle was on sale in the Netherlands around the same time as it was on sale in the United Kingdom, although this is an estimate based on the ponies pictured in the below advertisment:
There exists a version of Majesty made in China. She appears to
have been sold with the castle during the later years of
release, particularly in Europe, where the set continued to be
available after 1987. The example pictured above was found here
in the UK by my sister at a carboot sale in the late 1990s, but
most UK found Majestys are made in Hong Kong.
Majesty was released as a mail order pony
later in the North American line, and Spike was also
available via a later mail in offer (though not the same
one). Spike in this later release had larger eyes, more
reminscent of the dragons sold with the Princess
Ponies. As far as I know, Majesty was made in Hong
Kong.
