Mike,

It sounds like you have a good grip on the market and some energy. Maybe the torch should be passed!

Your idea of a scarcity range is good, and one I thought about when doing the book. The only problem is, people wanted to somehow associate value with the chips, and scarcity alone just isn't good enough. A chip from Chicago with 3 known are worth a lot more than a chip from Pennsylvania with 3 known. Like you said, crest and seals are always more popular than the hot stamps. And of course weakly attributed chips (Gene's favorites) are worth less than chips with a good pedigree (or at least should be).

I actually started an update a couple years back and didn't finish. I would need to update my database for all of Gene's histories (love them!) and move from there. I was set on retiring this year and working on my pet projects, but my company got bought out and asked everyone to stay at least a year for the transition. I envisioned rebuilding the online guide as well as the price guide. Maybe small steps, but you probably know how that goes.

I didn't make the last convention for the first time 17 years, but if you are putting together an illegal meeting, I will make this one.