The Field Guide
Celluloid and French Ivory Set
Not sure this is your set? Answer 5 quick questions about your tiles and case and we will match it for you.
Celluloid and French Ivory set
1920s, some into the 1930s
When the 1920s craze outran the Chinese workshops, American makers pressed tiles from celluloid, the first commercial plastic, often sold as French Ivory or Pyralin for its painted-on ivory grain. Parker Brothers and Pung Chow boxed sets are the ones that surface most.
Quick tells
- Thin, shiny, ivory-look plastic with fine parallel banding lines that never cross-hatch
- Noticeably lighter than the chunky mid-century plastic tiles
- Two-tone laminated tiles (ivory face bonded to a colored back) are common
- Age shows as crazing (fine cracks), warping, or sticky patches
- Often in a printed cardboard box with a 1920s rulebook
Confirm it with a test
- Warm and sniff. Rub a tile briskly or run it under hot tap water for a few seconds, then smell it. A camphor or vinegar smell is celluloid. The mid-century plastic smells like formaldehyde instead, which is the next card over.
- Check the banding. Angle a tile in the light and look for faint parallel lines in the material. Evenly spaced lines that never cross are imitation ivory grain; real ivory cross-hatches.
- Handle with care. Keep the set away from heat and sun while you figure it out. Celluloid is flammable and degrades with heat; that is also why crisp survivors are worth more.
What comparable sets have actually sold for
$90 - $445
Recent publicly visible sold prices for celluloid and French Ivory sets; complete boxed examples with rules sell at the top of the band. Observed July 2026. A sold-price range is not an appraisal; for insurance or estate purposes, hire a credentialed appraiser.
See the sold listings behind this range (5)
- 142 two-toned celluloid tiles : $445, eBay sold listing, 2026-07 (pre-owned)
- Complete 144-tile French Ivory set, wood case with rules, c. 1920s : $335, eBay sold listing, 2026-06 (complete in wood case)
- 1925 Pung Chow wood and celluloid 144-tile set with original receipt : $165, eBay sold listing, 2026-04 (complete)
- 1920s Parker Brothers Mah-Jongg boxed set with betting sticks : $125, eBay sold listing, 2026-05 (boxed, celluloid-faced wood tiles)
- 1930s Japanese set, celluloid dovetailed onto bamboo : $91, eBay sold listing, 4 bids, 2026-05 (pre-owned)
- Crazing, warping, and stickiness cut value sharply; condition matters more here than for any other type
- Complete boxed sets with the maker's rulebook do best
- Celluloid on bamboo hybrids exist and price closer to the bottom of the band
If you are thinking of selling
- Say celluloid or French Ivory, not ivory: the banding-line photo settles it for buyers
- Note any crazing or warping honestly; celluloid buyers always ask
- Ship away from heat: celluloid is flammable and heat-sensitive
Sources: sloperama.com, mahjongtreasures.com, themahjongtileset.co.uk, en.wikipedia.org
Think this one might be ivory instead?
Most cream-colored tiles like these are bone or an ivory-look plastic, not real ivory, but it is worth ruling out before you sell. Read how to tell the difference, since US and state law restrict ivory sales.
Common questions
How much is a Celluloid and French Ivory set worth?
Recent publicly visible sold prices for celluloid and French Ivory sets; complete boxed examples with rules sell at the top of the band. Comparable sets have sold for $90 to $445, observed July 2026. That is a market observation from dated sold listings, not an appraisal.
How do I know if I have a Celluloid and French Ivory set?
Quick tells: Thin, shiny, ivory-look plastic with fine parallel banding lines that never cross-hatch; Noticeably lighter than the chunky mid-century plastic tiles; Two-tone laminated tiles (ivory face bonded to a colored back) are common; Age shows as crazing (fine cracks), warping, or sticky patches; Often in a printed cardboard box with a 1920s rulebook. Confirm with a physical test before relying on a visual match alone: warm and sniff (Rub a tile briskly or run it under hot tap water for a few seconds, then smell it.); check the banding (Angle a tile in the light and look for faint parallel lines in the material.); handle with care (Keep the set away from heat and sun while you figure it out.).
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