Hi Dorothy,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

When we are asked to appraise such a large group of similar items and are given a single photo to represent multiples, we typically determine the average broad value of a single item (presuming good condition) and then multiply that value by the number of identical items, with some minor rounding up because it's preferable - from a collecting standpoint - to have multiples of things; in short, we're using an average value rather than a specific value. Since I don't have multiple images of each of the 43 boxes, I've had to apply this methodology to your appraisal. Keep in mind that some boxes may be in varying degrees of condition and might differ one to another if appraised individually.

“LEGO Systems by Samsonite” refers to vintage LEGO building sets made and sold under license by the Samsonite Corporation in North America (United States & Canada) during the 1960s and early 1970s. Samsonite — better known as a luggage manufacturer — entered the toy business in the early 1960s after partnering with The LEGO Group to manufacture and distribute LEGO products in North America.

According to historical catalogs and set listings posted on BrickLink, the following Samsonite set numbers were issued in 1961 under the Samsonite/LEGO arrangement:
218 – 2 × 4 Bricks (Samsonite) — 1961
219 – 2 × 3 Bricks (Samsonite) — 1961
220 – 2 × 2 Bricks (Samsonite) — 1961
221 – 1 × 2 Bricks (Samsonite) — 1961
225 A – 1 × 6 Beams (Samsonite) — 1961
225 B – 1 × 8 Beams (Samsonite) — 1961
518 – 2 × 4 Plates (Samsonite) — 1961

These were all Supplemental/parts sets and formed part of the earliest LEGO-by-Samsonite catalogs for the U.S. and Canadian markets — the year LEGO first licensed Samsonite to sell and market LEGO brick products in North America.

These small supplemental sets typically sell for tens of dollars each if complete — not hundreds like big collector sets — but individual pieces from rare early Samsonite bricks can sometimes fetch more among serious collectors.

Most unopened original factory-sealed boxes such as these typically sell for between $30 and $40 each when offered for auction, though retailers might ask for more.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A group of 43 vintage supplemental Lego Systems by Samsonite
released in 1961
comprising series 218,219,220,221,225A,225B, and 518.
each box 3 x 5 inches
CONDITION: unopened, mint in the box
PROVENANCE: Unknown
$1,200-1,800 for the group*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia