Hi, 

I am looking at purchasing an anvil, and this showed up nearby on CL. 

In your opinion, is it a good choice for a first anvil?

Probably not, some expletive welded a steel plate to the top of a good anvil. It would be great minus the plate. It just looks like there is a little saddling. I wouldn't buy it unless the plate could be easily removed and the anvil is ok. With that plate on top it will have next to 0 rebound because I think it would likely flex because it's only supported on the ends. I would find out who welded that plate on there and cuss him.

The anvil looks like an English Mousehole anvil.  Probably over 100 years old.  Peal that chunk of steel off the top, and you will "probably" have a decent anvil.  There is no way to tell what condition the top of the anvil is in without removing that plate.

What's with that growth on the horn?

For US$50 it's a good risk for US$200 it's wildly overpriced for an abused anvil. Between that it depends on your situation and more info on the anvil.

Looks definitely old english in style---may not be a Mousehole as there were over 200 other English anvil makers; we just see more mouseholes and Peter Wrights in the USA, (I have a Powell and a William Foster as well as 3 PWs). If there is *any* face left at all removing that abusive plate will give you a starter anvil.

People do stupid things. That was probably a reasonable piece of anvil before the plate was welded on. It certainly would not be a good working surface with the gap under the plate.
However, the gap may allow you to get a cutting wheel in there and remove that bit of nonsense without damaging the face too much. Still, a lot of work to bring it back. As has been stated, might be worth $50, but any more, I'd leave it there.
And yes, what's with the horn adornment?

Last I heard in our area maybe $.28 a lb. May get a big surprise once the plate is removed!