I would like to ask whom ever reads this to take a few minutes & read the posts about half way down that I start titled, UUUUMMMM EBAY. Read comments by O'Neal & Trimble.
It started as an advertisement of some very good lots I had running on ebay that closed tonight. They happened to do very well.
A little background here about myself & some points about the hobby.
I authored the book "The Official U.S. Casino Chip Price Guide" 1st edition 1999. My partner & I self published this extensive full color book. I believe we could not of done it without input from most of the top chip collectors throughout the country. We dedicated over 2 years of our lives to this. Previously I had researched casinos & collected chips about 15 years. In September 2000 our 2nd edition was released & this time we were produced by a major publishing company by the name of Schiffer. They have done 100's of antique books. We have sold over 1,000 books from September to January. This is the most comprehensive book ever written on chips & is in full color & covers many areas of interest as well as pictures of the old casinos. Controversial subjects of the pricing structure we took were a debate from the beginning. We list 3 prices as per condition.
This opens up a later very contoversial subject of "grading". We did not write this book to force anyone to grade their chips but merely look closer & appreciate them. Know what you are buying. Education is the key to everything. Not many people use this system we wrote 9 pages on, mostly pictures of various condition chips. If it has educated collectors to examine their chips closely or ask questions before bidding then they are learning. And we did a good job in helping.
For those who feel they are leaders like Janice O'Neal & Gene Trimble to "hate" this work is their choice. To let people know they are wrong about my book is my choice. Collectors don't need to be fed with misinformation that has been posted or spoken. My opinion of their feelings is due to many underlying factors that I just can't get into here. I can give an example. If a person is raised in a trailer & reads National Enquirer all their life they will never have the chance to attend Harvard & have a mansion on a hill.
I am tired of the best book ever to hit this hobby being knocked by those that want to repress our hobby. Prices have risen drastically in chip collecting for years now. I feel that last years convention was so incredibly strong words don't describe it. Collectors armed with the information we gave them for $29.95 were eager to buy & trade chips for their collection. I will look forward to this years National Convention to be even stronger. The ebay market shows strong growth as well. Why? because it has opened an avenue to learn. Learn prices & chips & chips can be bought round the clock. Education never stops & don't let it! Learn all you can about the area of chips you plan to collect. Ask questions. If you collect a current $1 or the rare El Rancho chips like the one of mine that broke $3,000 on ebay tonight you are collectors.