Plastic chess sets

Plastic sets are not generally collectible, nor do they increase in value over time. There may be a couple of isolated exceptions, which I'm not aware of, but that would be rare.

The only plastic set that I am aware of that has become a collector's item is the Cavalier #1491 by Pacific Game Co. set. People have paid upward of $150USD for this set in good or better condition. I bought that set (new) in 1989 and still have it. I comment on it, including photos, at the end of this blog article....(search '1491)...

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/cavalier-1491-tournament-set

Note "Cavalier" refers to the style of the knight (i.e., the Cavalier knight), the design of which can occasionally be found in other sets.

Also check out this chess.com forum post regarding the Cavalier #1491 set. Note that the OP (@Ronbo710 ) in post #7, indicates that an original "Windsor Castle" plastic set could/should be valuable...

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/cavalier-1491-tournament-set?page=1

Windsor Castle Chessmen--An American Classic (by OP @cgrau )....there is a photo of a young Bobby Fischer with the set (post #4)...

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/windsor-castle-chessmen-an-american-classic

I remember a Windsor Castle set that sold for just under 1,000 $ US. That was a few years ago.

I found one still in its plastic wrap. So far I have kept it unopened. No idea of the condition of the pieces inside.

In my collection I have numerous plastic sets that I enjoy. There’s the ‘70’s Dutch-made Homas Ivora sets, the ‘50’s Australian-made Bakelite sets, the 1967 Cavalier #1940, the two-toned Danish Union pieces, a Spanish set …

… the are valuable to me (as enjoyable pieces, as opposed to monetary wise) and as a collector, they’ll be staying with me for a while yet.

I don’t think plastic sets with value are as rare as you think. The Austrian Coffee House plastic set goes for around $160. The Varna Olympiad bakelite set goes for over $100 for ones from the ’70s and ’80s, but $300 for one from the ’60s.

The Soviet Molodets often go for around $100 or more. The non-modular Soviet ‘Olympic’ set goes for around $140, but the modular version usually goes for $200 or more.

A bakelite Soviet Staunton (Club set) from the ’40s in pristine condition can be highly valuable. I don’t know how much they go by, but Chess Praxis recently acquired the set below, which he paid quite a lot for. No kidding—look how beautiful!

@WandelKoningin -

Thank you for providing that information. I was not aware of it.