Mark,

Good points to be discussed. I will start out by saying I have 4 marbled chips in my collection. I personally think they are beautiful pieces of art and will not be mistaken for a real chip. If I thought they could be, I'd probably not own them.

Here are some random thoughts that hit me as I read your post. I haven't thought long and hard about this, so I reserve the right to change my mind based on further introspection and sharing of ideas.

1. Has it been an issue that it is considered acceptable for some people to own marbled chips and not others? Or did you mean repaired chips? In either case, I don't know that I considered it acceptable for only certain people to own certain things. I didn't realize this was an issue. Who said it was okay for certain people, but not others?

2. Because I really don't think they are going to be confused with authentic chips.

3. Everything will be sold and bought again. The difference is in the potential for a repair to be sold as original significantly defrauding of another collector.

4. It's America and the club can't control who people do legal business with?? Okay, I said that a bit tongue in cheek. I guess I don't see this as an issue.

5. No. Speaking only for marbled chips as I don't own repaired chips, I'm encouraging that party to make tons of unique and beautiful marbled chips, not repaired chips. I happen to love the marbled chips and, again, see #2. I don't see it as the same kind of threat.

6. This is an interesting question. I've signed the slabfree pledge and I don't do business with someone I know to be involved with slabbing. I guess I'm hoping the collective economic clout of people not doing business with those involved with slabbing will force that aspect out of our hobby. In this situation, I guess I feel that keeping people making marbled chips encourages them to use their tremendous skills for art instead of repairing chips. I don't like the idea of repaired chips that are easily mistaken for the real thing. I don’t consider buying marbled chips as supporting repaired chips. I’m not sure why I feel (note feel, not “think”) this is different, but it does feel different to me. I’ll probably noodle on that awhile. Let me ask this in return, do you collect other Four Queens chips or did you stop collecting ALL Four Queens chips because of the Pai Gow chip issue?

Again, good thoughts for discussion Mark.

Bryan