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Dragon Ball Z Chess Set - DeAgostini (2002)

Dragon Ball Z chess set by DeAgostini featuring various hero and villain PVC figures in a purple storage box. - view 1
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Estimated value

$80 - $150

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Category

Toys & Games

Brand

DeAgostini

Era

2002

Origin

🇮🇹 Italy

Artist / Creator

Akira Toriyama

Authenticity

Very High(85%)
54

DRAGON BALL Z CHESS SET - DEAGOSTINI (2002): IDENTIFICATION

A complete 32-piece themed chess set featuring PVC figures based on the Dragon Ball Z anime series. The set features the Z-Fighters as the 'White' pieces (Hero side) and the Villains as the 'Black' pieces (Villain side). Each figure is mounted on a colored base—white for heroes and black for villains—to distinguish team alignment on the board. The heroes include various forms of Goku, Gohan, Trunks, and Vegeta, while the villain roster includes Cell, Frieza, Majin Buu, and Ginyu Force members.

Compare with other toys in the archive: Greiner-type Papier-Mâché Doll (mid-to-late 19th Century), Miniature Silver Iron with Trivet, Hot Wheels 2000 Jaguar R1 Formula 1 Die-Cast Model.

PRODUCTION & LINE HISTORY

Produced by the Italian publisher DeAgostini in 2002 under license from Toei Animation and Bird Studio/Shueisha, this set was originally distributed as a partwork series across Europe and Latin America. In this distribution model, collectors would typically purchase individual magazines that ...
Produced by the Italian publisher DeAgostini in 2002 under license from Toei Animation and Bird Studio/Shueisha, this set was originally distributed as a partwork series across Europe and Latin America. In this distribution model, collectors would typically purchase individual magazines that included one or two figures per issue. Complete boxed sets were later synthesized by collectors or sold in limited retail runs, marking a peak period of Dragon Ball Z's global syndication success in the early 2000s.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

The 2002 copyright date on the packaging coincides with the peak of the 'Majin Buu Saga' broadcast in several European markets, which is why Kid Buu and Super Buu features so prominently as pawns.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Rarity 4/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 11 toys items at rarity 4 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

  • Official DeAgostini and Toei Animation licensing marks are visible on the box side
  • Mold quality and paint application are consistent with known 2002 partwork production
How does authenticity detection work?

TOY SPECIALIST'S TAKE

Toy Historian & Collector-Dealer

Toy Specialist

Identification is highly certain due to the clear branding, copyright marks, and the distinct sculpts of the DeAgostini partwork series which are well-documented in collector databases.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Visible 'DeAgostini' branding on the side panel
  • 2Copyright date of 2002 printed on the box exterior
  • 3Specific PVC figure sculpts matching the 2002 European partwork release
  • 4Complete 32-piece inventory present in the display tray

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Missing the original accompanying magazines/leaflets which would complete the 'full' set
  • •Potential for minor paint transfer between PVC figures if stored in high temperatures

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Check for the presence of the cardboard game board underneath the plastic tray
  • →Verify if any figure limbs have been glued due to common brittle-joint issues in 2000s PVC

CONDITION & GRADE

Excellent (EX)

Grading breakdown

The set appears complete with all 32 figures present in their original slots, and the box retains its structural integrity despite minor edge rubbing.

Condition

The internal plastic tray appears intact without the common cracking found in aged PVC storage. The external box shows minor corner wear and shelf scuffing consistent with 20-plus years of storage.

TOY MARKET VALUE

$80 - $150

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Millennial nostalgia collectors and Dragon Ball completionists who frequent platforms like eBay and Vinted.

What increases value

  • •Completeness of the 32-figure roster
  • •Condition of the outer display box
  • •Structural integrity of the internal plastic form

What lowers value

  • •Missing unique figures (typically the 'King/Queen' pieces are lost first)
  • •Sun-fading on the purple packaging

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Presence of the original individual magazines
  • •Original shrink-wrap or unpunched box flaps

Grade & condition

Paint rubs on hair spikes, completeness of the tray, and absence of 'lean' in the PVC characters.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar toys objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

AN

anth
The Keeper•6 items

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