The Field Guide
What mahjong set do I have?
A mahjong set identification comes down to three things you can check at your kitchen table: what the tiles are made of, how many there are, and what they came packed in. Answer the questions below and this page will tell you which family your set most likely belongs to, how to confirm it with a simple physical test, and what comparable sets have actually sold for recently, with the sold listings linked so you can judge for yourself.
Sets like these usually arrive as inheritances, and the two most common surprises run in opposite directions: the "ivory" tiles are almost always bone or early plastic, and the plain-looking 1950s plastic set in the train case is often the one collectors actually want.
Not sure, or want a second opinion?
- Email us photos. Send clear shots of a tile face, a tile edge, the backs, and the case to editor@mahjongalmanac.com and we will tell you what we can see and what to check next. No charge; it also helps us make this guide better.
- Ask collectors. The vintage mahjong collecting community is active and generous with identifications; photo-forward communities like the mahjong subreddit and vintage mahjong Facebook groups will often narrow a set down within hours.
- For insurance or estates, hire a credentialed appraiser. Sold-price ranges are market observations. A written appraisal for legal purposes is a different document, and this page is not one.
If you think it might be ivory
First: it probably is not. Nearly all cream-colored vintage tiles are cattle bone or an ivory-look plastic. Bone shows tiny dark pits or flecks under a bright light; elephant ivory shows a faint cross-hatched grain pattern.
If the cross-hatch is really there, stop before selling. Since 2016, US federal rules ban most sales of elephant ivory across state lines, with narrow exemptions (including qualifying antiques over 100 years old), and some states, including New York, California, and New Jersey, ban most ivory sales outright. Start with the US Fish and Wildlife Service's guidance and get the set professionally examined before listing it anywhere.
Common questions
How much is an old mahjong set worth?
It depends almost entirely on what the tiles are made of and how complete the set is. Most inherited sets are worth under a few hundred dollars, mid-century American catalin sets and nice bone-and-bamboo sets in original cases regularly sell in the low hundreds, and exceptional examples (carved tiles, rare colors, luxe complete cases) can bring four figures. The tool above shows dated sold prices for each type rather than a single made-up number.
Are old mahjong tiles ivory?
Almost never. The creamy tiles in most vintage sets are cattle bone or an early plastic (celluloid or catalin) made to look like ivory. Bone shows tiny dark pits up close; ivory shows a faint cross-hatch grain. Genuine ivory sets exist but are rare, and US federal law bans most elephant-ivory sales, with limited exemptions and stricter rules in some states, so identify the material before you even think about selling.
Where do the value ranges on this page come from?
From publicly visible sold listings (eBay sold prices and auction-house realized prices), each linked with its date, gathered on the date shown next to each range. They are observations of what comparable sets actually sold for, not an appraisal of your set.
Can I play American mah jongg with an inherited set?
Only if it has at least 152 tiles including eight jokers. Many older and Chinese sets have 144 tiles and no jokers; players solve this with joker stickers over spare tiles, or keep the heirloom set for display and play with a modern set.
Keeping the set and want to play with it? Start with how American mah jongg works and check whether your set has the eight jokers the game needs. Set not playable, or staying on the display shelf? Today's sets are in the catalog.