Safari Ltd. Authentics

[therizinosaurus]

Not sure if there's a thread about these guys yet, but I figured I'd share my collection. For those who don't know, they were released throughout the 90's in 3 different sets of 6. They were variously marketed as "Mini Carnegies" or as part of the Authentics line (there were also sea animals, farm life, forest animals, etc). I believe the first line came out around 1993, with the others following shortly thereafter.
They were released various ways--either individually, in cardboard boxes with a clear panel on the front showing the figures, or in the little clear boxes I show below. Many of the figures have been changed slightly and reissued as part of the Toob line.


Series 1, Apatosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Tyrannosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Triceratops, Stegosaurus


3 variants of the Apatosaurus, alongside a Toob Apatosaurus


4 Authentics Tyrannosauruses, a Dino Toob T-rex, and a Carnivorous Dino Toob T-rex


The Parasaurolophus. Off the top of my head, I don't think Safari has made any other mini Parasaurolophuses.


Authentics Trike, with the dino toob triceratops.


Authentics Brachiosaurus. Like the Parasaur, I don't think there's a toob version.


Stegosaurus. Note how much variation there is. The one on the right is a toob version.

[therizinosaurus]

Onto Series 2...







The box...




...and the paperwork.


The lineup--Velociraptor, Styracosaurus, Euoplocephalus, Dimetrodon, Dilophosaurus, Protoceratops



The Authentics Velociraptor (left), with three different repaints found in various toobs over the years. I love having a whole herd


Styracosaurus...never repainted, never rereleased.


Authentics Protoceratops (right) and the Feathered dino toob Proto.


Authentics Euoplocephalus (right) and the dino toob version


Authentics Dilophosaurus (right) and a toob version


Authentics Dimetrodon (left) and two different toob versions.

[therizinosaurus]

And last but not least, Series 3!







Box





Paperwork



And the figures. Spinosaurus, Iguanodon, Diplodocus, Allosaurus, Elasmosaurus, Pteranodon


2 Authentics Spinosauruses and a toob version


2 Authentics Iguanodons and a toob version


Authentics Diplodocus and a toob version


3 Authentics Allosauruses


2 Authentics Elasmosauruses and a toob version


Authentics Pteranodon and a toob version




And one last photo for you guys! Enjoy!

[Gwangi]

Great thread and photos. I have all of the originals (I think) and I believe they're in my trade thread but I have been debating taking them off there. I don't have any from the second set but have long wanted that Protoceratops and from the third set I only have the Elasmosaurus. I wouldn't mind getting the complete sets of the other two series but I do have some of the toob "knock-offs".

[Jetoar]

Wonderful figures. Styracosaurus is amazing, better than some figures current

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

Nice figures. I think I have the parasaurolophus. I think I'll pass on buying more, though.

[joossa]

Styracosaurus is amazing, better than some figures current

Agreed. It's very nice!

[docronnie]

Thanks for sharing!  Learned a lot from this post. 

[docronnie]

I just acquired today the Dinosaurs II, but with a different packaging. Sadly, it does not have the brochures. Will post a photo soon.

[docronnie]

Here it is:

[triceratops83]

The Allosaurus looks like a tiny version of the Waiphoon Allo, which I suppose in turn is a copy of something else.

[leidy]

I have a few of these.  I believe I bought them loose in various museum gift shops in the 90s.  The ones I have are the non-degraded mold versions with the superior paintjobs, not the dino toob versions.  I like them a lot.  For that time the accuracy was top-notch, and some of them still hold up very well.

As much as it says Safari underneath, I always considered them almost honourary Battats.

I haven't been able to confirm it, but I would swear they are sculpted by Greg and Dan.

A few in series 2 look unmistakably like Greg Wenzel's work.  I have the Protoceratops and the ankylosaurus.  The Proto really reminds me a lot of the Battat ceratopsians Greg did.  The accuracy and perfect symetry of the skull, the sense of motion, and the fine wrinkling technique.  It's a superb figure.

Onto Series 2...



The lineup--Velociraptor, Styracosaurus, Euoplocephalus, Dimetrodon, Dilophosaurus, Protoceratops


Styracosaurus...never repainted, never rereleased.


Authentics Protoceratops (right) and the Feathered dino toob Proto.


Authentics Euoplocephalus (right) and the dino toob version


Authentics Dilophosaurus (right) and a toob version


Authentics Dimetrodon (left) and two different toob versions.

Series 3, I have the Diplodocus, the Iguanodon.  Again, the more crisply molded, better painted version, rather than the blurry reissues.  The diplo has a certain grace to it, and there's a certain care and attention paid to the feet and legs that reminds me of some of Dan LoRusso's other figures (although the cute proportions give it quite a different feel to his larger lankier Battat diplodocus).

I really want that little Allosaurus.  Something about the posing and texturing reminds me of Dan's Battat Dilophosaurus. 

I think I have a later brown version of that Spinosaurus somewhere, possibly from a dino toob.  I didn't think much of it, with the obvious inaccuracies I wasn't impressed at all.  Seeing the original here, it's actually a very cool version of that incarnation of Spinosaurus, like back in the days when it was still acceptable to restore it as a more conventional fin-backed carnosaur.  More of a robust fighter than the recently revised fish-eater.  It kinda makes me wish such a dinosaur actually existed!

And last but not least, Series 3!



And the figures. Spinosaurus, Iguanodon, Diplodocus, Allosaurus, Elasmosaurus, Pteranodon


2 Authentics Spinosauruses and a toob version


2 Authentics Iguanodons and a toob version


Authentics Diplodocus and a toob version


3 Authentics Allosauruses

[docronnie]

The box set that I bought does not say the year it was made. Does anyone know why difference in the box they came with? TIA.

[loru1588]

My former associate Greg Wenzel did the original sculpts for the Series II and I did the original sculpts for the Series III. Early 90's before we started the Battat MOS Boston Series.

[Paleogene Pals]

At the risk of sounding like a punk, what is a 'Delycosaur'?  Otherwise, cool little set.

[Paleogene Pals]

I also add that the Protoceratops and Styracosaurus are well-sculpted pieces.

[DinoLord]

Anyone have a spare Protoceratops from this line? Have been searching for ages!

[leidy]

My former associate Greg Wenzel did the original sculpts for the Series II and I did the original sculpts for the Series III. Early 90's before we started the Battat MOS Boston Series.

lol, I knew it!

Surprised these predate the Battat line, they're really accomplished for the size. 

[docronnie]

My former associate Greg Wenzel did the original sculpts for the Series II and I did the original sculpts for the Series III. Early 90's before we started the Battat MOS Boston Series.

So this is the reason why, we see these as little Battat-like figures.  Thanks for sharing the information! 

[Stuckasaurus (Dino Dad Reviews)]

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but I just found it, and it reopened my mental wounds sustained from losing my Protoceratops. 

I have the Toob Protoceratops now, and it's good enough, but it can't hold a candle to that beautiful creature from the Authentics line! Such a pretty paintjob.

I just can't get over it, because even back in my childhood, it was one of my favorite models, so I would've thought that I would've taken good care of it. Sigh. Oh well.