Value is the most common question anyone asks. A good guideline would
be "two stones for a dollar". Of
course there are many exceptions, but it is a good place to start. You
can expect to pay two to three times that price in a Madison Avenue antique
shop in New York City. And you should expect to pay more if you want
to buy "one of this type of stone and two of that". Bargains can still
be found, but far more sets are overpriced than underpriced. I
cannot tell you how often people ask about a GK-NF set # 4, of 47 stones,
being offered for US$200. The set # 6, with 105 stones and all three
books, is worth only about $100! The new sets
sell for over $100 a set (during December, 1996, a # 6 sold for $140
plus shipping from Land's End). So you may find the older sets cheaper,
but to do so you will have to haunt the flea markets. For questions
about specific values, please fell free to contact
me. (I am far
more likely to be a buyer than a seller. I will only sell Anchor stones
from my collection to "good homes". However, because Anchor sets are
not widely distributed yet in the USA, I do keep a small
inventory of new sets for sale. I also have established a
small inventory of old sets for sale.) A
long (but not complete) listing of the estimated retail price
of Anchor sets is found in Schroeder's Collectable Toys Price Guide. Since
I provided the information for this listing, e-mailing me to see if I differ
with that book is not likely to result in much new information. But
keep in mind that the company used the same identification numbers over and
over, so one should look for the accompanying telegraph words or passwords.
For the record, I have no connection with this new production venture. As a look at this web site should prove, my interest in Anchor blocks is of a hobby nature, and like most hobbyists, I encourage others to see the greatness in my hobby. Feel free to contact me if you want to find out about product for retail sale in the USA. I will be glad to put you in touch with the importer/wholesaler. This web site is run by me for the benefit of the CVA.
For those who are really interested in Anchor stones, I have written a book about them. (I just got tired of either looking up the same information again and again, or trusting my memory on specific details such as dates and names.) It is expensive, $70 (or 100 DM) ppd, because I print it myself on my PC and color ink is expensive. The book undoubtedly contains far more information about Anchor stones and sets, the Richter company, etc. than you'll ever want to read. This book is a lot of work to print (I print about a dozen at a time, in either English or German), so please don't think I am urging you to buy one.
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