I just got delivery of a book I won on eBay:

The Big Gamble - The Story of Monte-Carlo
Charles Graves
Hutchinson & Co. (Publishers) LTD
London-Sydney-Cape Town
Published 1951

This 200-page book (44-illustrations) is
unbelievable!!! There's pictures of chips and
plaques in full view.

As most collectors of Monaco material know, dating
the pieces is just about impossible, and if it was
not for the cooperation of certain manufacturers who
told us such things as when the lunette and
filigreed overlays were introduced, we would be
completely lost. Some of the pictures in this book
will be a great help to the student of Monte-Carlo
Casino History.

Though I just received the book and briefly skimmed
over certain chapters (lots of related history,
too), I'm examining pictures of: counting-up the
bank before play begins (chips and plaques piled on
a table with some unbelievable equipment shots); a
picture of guards ceremoniously bringing in huge
boxes of chips to be counted and distributed to the
vatious tables, Roulette action and another Roulette
scene (posed) of chips and plaques horizontally
stacked against the wheel and spread out on the
layout.

After I read the book; taken some notes and whatnot,
I'll forward it over to the club library for others
to enjoy.

JB