San Loo Chinese Checkers Value Guide

The San Loo Chinese Checkers board is a quintessential piece of mid-century Americana produced by Northwestern Products of St. Louis between 1940 and 1955. This double-sided lithographed tin board is highly collectible for its vibrant Orientalist graphics and its dual-purpose design featuring a standard checkers grid on the reverse.

What Is San Loo Chinese Checkers Worth?

The typical price range for San Loo Chinese Checkers is $15 - $17 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The presence of the original glass marbles significantly increases the market value compared to the board alone.
• Surface condition is critical; scratches, rust, or fading on the lithographed tin will lower the value toward the $15 range.
• Structural integrity of the board, including the lack of dents or warping in the metal and cardboard backing.
• Completeness of the set, including the original box which can drive prices toward the higher end of the $17 estimate.

How to Identify San Loo Chinese Checkers?

• Look for the 'Northwestern Products' manufacturer mark and 'St. Louis' origin printed on the lithographed tin surface.
• Verify the double-sided construction, which should feature a six-pointed star for Chinese Checkers and a regulation checkerboard on the back.
• Check for the specific 'San Loo' branding, which was a marketing name used to capitalize on the early 20th-century fascination with Eastern aesthetics.
• Examine the material composition, which typically consists of a lithographed tin face over a sturdy cardboard or metal frame.

History of San Loo Chinese Checkers

Produced by Northwestern Products of St. Louis, the San Loo board was a staple of mid-century American households. Despite its name and aesthetic, Chinese Checkers actually originated in Germany in 1892 as 'Sternhalma' and was rebranded for the US market to capitalize on the 1920s fascination with Orientalism.