Mah Jong Set

Q: Can you tell me anything about this Mah Jong set?

A: The game Mah Jong originated in China and was brought to the United States by Joseph Babcock, who discovered the game while working in China in the early 1900s. He made some changes to the game, added English letters and Arabic numerals to the tiles, and wrote a book of rules. He trademarked the word “Mah-Jongg,” which sounds something like the Chinese word for the game. The Mah-Jongg Company of China was founded by Babcock and others in 1922. The game became popular in the United States in the 1920s. Interest in it revived in the 1970s and again in the last several years. Early imported sets had ivory, bone or bamboo tiles. Sets with Catalin, a polymer that looks like ivory, were made beginning in the late 1930s. Without knowing the material of the tiles in your set (bone, ivory, Catalin, plastic, wood, etc.) or the maker or age, it’s not possible to estimate the value. The material and design of the case also affect price. A set with bamboo backed pieces sold for $84 last year, while another with bone and bamboo tiles and a carved wood case sold for $393. From your picture, your set looks like it is in excellent condition, with bamboo backed tiles, etc., but it has a paper-covered chest. Wooden chests with metal trim are the most expensive. Sets similar to yours sell for about $200.