A good scan provides more detail than most photographs. It is also straight on, so no question about distortion. As for color, there are two types of scanners. Jim Follis has posted many times with a great explanation of the difference. Get the kind of scanner that can capture neon colors and you will have no problems with chip colors. Probably the best would be to have both a scan and a photo showing the condition of the sides of the chip (rounded, etc.).

To protect yourself, ask the seller a question if it's a chip that is different in a way you haven't seen before. There is a type of Aruba Caribbean matchbook that comes in orange and blue. I have seen many red ones on eBay, but they all turn out to be the orange ones with bad photography or bad scans. I now ask every time. Most sellers are quick to give honest answers. Problem solved.

IMHO

Michael Siskin