I love Richter Anchor blocks, but most of the sets one comes across are large ones, which, because the blocks are made of stone (specifically a stone-like mixture of quartz sand, chalk and linseed oil) they are heavy, and rather unwieldy! (First produced in Germany in the mid-19th century, the blocks became popular in the 1880s when businessman Friedrich Adolf Richter acquired the rights to the design and began marketing them under his name--with that popularity decidedly intertwined with the rise of Froebel kindergarten and its focus on hands-on learning.) This, though, is a nice small set, close to complete if not quite, and with original, folded sheet of architectural models to be constructed and an insert of printed figures, which could be cut out and moved around amid the miniature architectures! I'm especially smitten with the design printed on the reverse side of the cardboard box lid, which portrays the complete set of blocks arranged to fit in the box. Photos show everything included. An early set, c. 1880s.
5" x 3 3/8" x 1". General wear to all. A few small blocks missing and a few with small losses. Lid just rests flat atop the box, no sides to it.
