Hi bob,

I'd be interested in knowing what chip you bought with a hot-stamp cancel for $150. In my opinion, removing the cancel does NOT reduce the value; however, I don't know of any chips I'd pay that kind of money for with a stamp-cancel. Most of the Paul-son cancelled chips that have been withdrawn sell for from $4-15 with cancel removed. I still think that anything that makes the chip more presentable is OK for a collectible. Whether it's dirt or a hotstamp you're removing, it should not make it worse. May not make it better <g>, but not worse.

DonL