I don't believe it makes sense to copywrite a grading system, especially when it leads to more exposure for the book. Besides it would prevent anyone else from using it without permission. Hey, not a bad idea, legally no one can use the grading system? ;-)

USPS tried to stop UPS from using their ZipCode system. They lost the case.

Jim had asked me some questions. I collect WI and Elko, activly, and anything else that falls into my grubby little hands. I don't collect LEs unless I get them in a trade or for face. (aka off the tables)

I don't own your book, but might someday so I can look at the pictures. I don't know if Borders or any of the large booksellers in this area carry it.

We don't need a 100 point or 70 point grading system. If someone has to have a 12 page set of rules to figure out what a chip is, something is wrong. Fortunatly many of us will just ignore the system and continue to have fun collecting. For all the "good" that grading has done for coins, I think it stinks.

Suckers and speculators will use the grading system and buy slabbed chips, because they aren't collectors, and probably don't have a clue about the joy of holding a chip, picking them up at a casino, the history, trading or finding one on their own. In other words they won't even become club members and they aren't really collectors.

I think using the name "official" is a bit pretentious, but I also recognize that there are hundreds of guides for other interests that also name themself the same. There's a whole series of books by one publisher, so even though it's bogus, I'm not jumping and yelling over a common practice that stinks.

So when someone adds Wisconsin to a guide, I'll buy a copy. Until then TCR is my one guide. I can't see spending $60 a year to buy every possible upgrade.

Nothing personal about this, just my views on grading, slabbing and spending money on duplicate resources.