Stadden American Civil War Chess set questions (1 Viewer)

[Dzeig]

My brother purchased a chess set at an antique dealer several years ago and has asked me to check on it's value and to sell it if possible. It's a Stadden American Civil War set according to the markings on the felt covering all of the individual figures mounts.
It's in a fitted cardboard box that has seen better days. The felt and foam cutouts that hold the pieces are in bad shape but all of the figures look to be in very good condition with everything intact. It looks like this set hasn't been used. The only issue is that on many of the marble bases the glue has broken down and the figures have come loose. I did not remove any of the figures from the case to inspect them all.
This collection does not have the wooden presentation case that I've seen with other sets. It does have a wooden chessboard that as far as I can tell was not part of the factory set. This board is not in good condition as the varnish and what I assume are laminated chessboard squares are separating from the base wood. I don't think it is salvageable without a lot of work.
I've found a couple of these sets that have sold but my question is would anyone have an idea of what the value of this set would be without the case? Again that would be assuming that all of the figures except for the base problem are in very good condition.
I'm a member of several forums and I hate to join one just to try to sell something but this is such a specialty item that I couldn't think of what else to do.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Of course if anyone is interested in the set, let me know. My email is zeig@comcast.net.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Sadly, Bernard (Cardigan), our resident expert on Chas. Stadden, passed away. :redface2: I don't know if anyone else knows value on Stadden items on this forum.

 

[theBaron]

Welcome to the forum!

Louis mentioned Cardigan, and while he was posting, I was running a search for other posts about Stadden chess sets, because I know the subject has come up occasionally.

First, here is a thread Cardigan started for a Stadden English Civil War chess set:

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?26505-Stadden-English-Civil-War-Chess-set

At the time that auction was still open, the price worked out to around 11 pounds per figure. You can still follow the eBay/UK link to the auction, though the images are no longer there.

Next, a thread Cardigan started for a Stadden American Revolution chess set:

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?24084-Stadden-AWI-Chess-set

The pictures give you a better idea of the bases, similar to the ones in your brother's set. Note that the board, a table, actually, is one that Bernard (Cardigan) selected specifically to display his set. He had them touched up, if I am not mistaken.

These posts are probably more useful to you-the complete Stadden Civil War chess set, including the presentation case:

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?22822-ACW-Stadden-Chess-Set

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?20058-Stadden-ACW-Chess-Set

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?22894-ACW-Photos-Stadden-Chess-Set

He was rather discreet and did not say how much he paid for the set, though. He does note how much it cost to ship it.

If I had to price your brother's set, given that he has just the figures, and not the presentation box, and given that some of the bases have become separated, I'd probably start at $35 each for the larger figures, and $25 each for the 54mm figures, just to establish a baseline. I'd take into account the fact that there aren't that many Stadden collectors out there, and that anyone who buys this collection will probably need to get it restored. I'd also adjust higher or lower, depending on whether I needed to move the set or whether I can wait for the highest price.

There are a couple of auctioneers who might be able to help you, too. One is Ray Haradin of Old Toy Soldier Auctions, based in Pittsburgh. His website is https://oldtoysoldierauctions.com/default.htm, and he also has a Facebook page. The other is Norman Joplin, website is http://www.normanjoplin.com/. Norman used to be associated with Vectis Auctions (I think he started that particular auction house), and he is a noted author and toy soldier show promoter in the UK.

You could just put it up an eBay, too, and see what kind of response you get. I didn't see any Stadden chess sets or individual figures up right now, whether on eBay or eBay/UK, so there's nothing right now to compare.

Hope that helps, prost!
Brad

PS-By the way, where are you in PA?

 

[jazzeum]

Sadly, Bernard (Cardigan), our resident expert on Chas. Stadden, passed away. :redface2: I don't know if anyone else knows value on Stadden items on this forum.

One of the best forum members there ever was. His absence is very sad.

 

[Louis Badolato]

One of the best forum members there ever was. His absence is very sad.

I miss him. He was a good friend.

 

[Dzeig]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I realize it's going to be a difficult thing to price and sell considering it's condition. I did find one that sold recently at auction. My brother saw it and got all excited so I had to bring him down with the fact that his set probably isn't worth anything near the selling price of this one.

https://www.lofty.com/products/charles-stadden-military-civil-war-chess-set-1-8dexv

Thanks again.

 

[Dzeig]

Welcome to the forum!

Louis mentioned Cardigan, and while he was posting, I was running a search for other posts about Stadden chess sets, because I know the subject has come up occasionally.

First, here is a thread Cardigan started for a Stadden English Civil War chess set:

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?26505-Stadden-English-Civil-War-Chess-set

At the time that auction was still open, the price worked out to around 11 pounds per figure. You can still follow the eBay/UK link to the auction, though the images are no longer there.

Next, a thread Cardigan started for a Stadden American Revolution chess set:

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?24084-Stadden-AWI-Chess-set

The pictures give you a better idea of the bases, similar to the ones in your brother's set. Note that the board, a table, actually, is one that Bernard (Cardigan) selected specifically to display his set. He had them touched up, if I am not mistaken.

These posts are probably more useful to you-the complete Stadden Civil War chess set, including the presentation case:

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?22822-ACW-Stadden-Chess-Set

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?20058-Stadden-ACW-Chess-Set

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?22894-ACW-Photos-Stadden-Chess-Set

He was rather discreet and did not say how much he paid for the set, though. He does note how much it cost to ship it.

If I had to price your brother's set, given that he has just the figures, and not the presentation box, and given that some of the bases have become separated, I'd probably start at $35 each for the larger figures, and $25 each for the 54mm figures, just to establish a baseline. I'd take into account the fact that there aren't that many Stadden collectors out there, and that anyone who buys this collection will probably need to get it restored. I'd also adjust higher or lower, depending on whether I needed to move the set or whether I can wait for the highest price.

There are a couple of auctioneers who might be able to help you, too. One is Ray Haradin of Old Toy Soldier Auctions, based in Pittsburgh. His website is https://oldtoysoldierauctions.com/default.htm, and he also has a Facebook page. The other is Norman Joplin, website is http://www.normanjoplin.com/. Norman used to be associated with Vectis Auctions (I think he started that particular auction house), and he is a noted author and toy soldier show promoter in the UK.

You could just put it up an eBay, too, and see what kind of response you get. I didn't see any Stadden chess sets or individual figures up right now, whether on eBay or eBay/UK, so there's nothing right now to compare.

Hope that helps, prost!
Brad

PS-By the way, where are you in PA?

I'm south of Lancaster near a town called Marticville.

 

[Dzeig]

I'm located south of Lancaster near a town call Marticville.

 

[tdubel]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I realize it's going to be a difficult thing to price and sell considering it's condition. I did find one that sold recently at auction. My brother saw it and got all excited so I had to bring him down with the fact that his set probably isn't worth anything near the selling price of this one.

https://www.lofty.com/products/charles-stadden-military-civil-war-chess-set-1-8dexv

Thanks again.

To add some more color to the auction that sold. That was a limited edition with wooden presentation case, name plates in unused pristine condition other than 2 blemishes noted. The number actually made in that style is very low. I have the figure around somewhere as I have the original brochure advertisement on that version! also noticed it is #11 out of 1000, I guarantee they never made a 100 of them in that format.

Yours obviously is less, but I would put a value of $500 or so on the set in it current condition cash sale. A lot of times these were broken up to sell the personality figures as Stadden released them on their own and in vignettes. The pristine singles generally bring $80 per personality and the vignettes higher (example is the Longstreet and Pickett figures together on a wooden base which I have and can post pics next week when home).

Anyhow, it is a nice set and worth restoring.

TD

 

[The Major]

Late in the day, but we actually purchased from Patrick J D Willis the series of surviving Stadden Chess sets.

1. American Civil War.
2. English Civil War.
3. Waterloo 1815 napoleonic Chess Set
4. Un Identified*

If no wooden or Leatherette Case Box, it depends on the condition and Poses of your Chess Set Figures.
Some Moulds were destroyed, show me your figures and i will happily make you a valid offer

 

[The Major]

Looking at what i cana ctually "see" in your Photo, i'd offer you 200 Sterling.