The value of a set goes up exponentially by condition, and a like new set from the 30s is rare, but this is in itself not a valuable set, I would guess. Still there are so few pristine sets, that I agree with you. Buy them a starter set to play with and put this away or on display. Then he can find a buyer at his leisure if he wants.
There are a couple of 259es on Ebay now in nice condition in the $150-180 range.