Reader Tony Watson, whose google site is listed in the Resources area, has written a wonderful piece on hand-made sets.
Thank you Tony
Close ups of each set now follow:
First set, French, possibly made by CF
2nd set, a tiny one from Austria. with applied label
3rd set, a very unusual one
4th set, handmade in Belgium of at least three different woods
The book I wrote with Ann Israel is being published by Tuttle. To see more about it:
www.mahjonggtheartof thegame.com
To order it click here:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mah-jongg-ann-israel/1118759459?ean=9784805313237
or here from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Mah-Jongg-Collectors-Guide-Tiles/dp/4805313234/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1414844427&sr=8-7&keywords=mah+jongg