Oh where, oh where are all of the unbelievably popular LEGO Minifigures Series 10 71001 at? The first new 2013 LEGO Minifigures Series appeared overseas in Hungary in March, and ever since LEGO collectors worldwide have been chomping at the bit to purchase their own LEGO Series 10 Figures and to have a shot at the sought-after LEGO Mr. Gold minifigure, who’s limited to only 5000 figures produced. There have been a couple of isolated cases of LEGO Minifigures Series 10 found in the United States this week, but only a few. And that’s for a good reason: LEGO has placed an official release date on the set…

Traditionally we’ve seen the various LEGO Minifigure Series show up at retail stores randomly with no rhyme or reason. Usually they hit Toys R Us first, but occasionally the LEGO Store gets first dibs. And yes–even Target has been the first to launch a LEGO Minifigure Series once or twice. But there won’t be any randomness involved this time: LEGO has placed an official street date of May 1st, 2013 (5/1/2013) on the shipping boxes for LEGO Minifigures Series 10.

What’s this mean? In short, stores are not allowed to stock or sell this latest LEGO Minifigure Series until May 1 2013. That doesn’t mean that unobservant stock boys or disinterested employees won’t stock the series until that date, but it means that by and large stores shouldn’t be selling the set before that date.

A few Target stores in the United States accidentally released the set early anyway–LEGO Minifigures Series 10 sightings have come in from Ohio, Colorado, and California. As a result, there’s around 100 early listings for LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series 10 on ebay right now. But these are the exceptions to the rule–most LEGO collectors inquiring at Target stores have been turned away due to the strict street date of 5/1/13 printed on the boxes by LEGO.

So it seems that for most of us, the true hunt for Mr. Gold won’t begin just yet, and we’ll have to be content oogling ridiculous Mr. Gold auctions like this one where Mr. Gold is fetching $1000+. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 1st, because that’s the day when the Series 10 LEGO Minifigures should arrive in full force in most retail stores nationwide!

If you luck out and find LEGO Minifigures Series 10 early in your store, please leave a comment and let us know where you picked up the set!