In the 1970s I was playing in a homegame. When the host handed out the chips from hisbeganb set--magnificent eagles and stars--said it had belonged to his father. I thought that was neat and I began a search through local area antique stores to find asimilar set; didn't find complete sets but began getting partials with different designs. A dealer noting my interest showed me an ad in an antique periodical from some guy by the name of Seymour. so I wrote gim; he sent me some chips in a toilet peper tube; I next met a "young" Loisevile dentist and then some guy in Brooklyn and trading began. but i only started with design clays. started to go to the big eastern out door shows and picked up scoresof chips; got my first ivory--a number in a grubby carrell from an old lady. I discovered Nevada chips as I went to Vegas twice a year but didn't have much interest in casino chips which were more expensive than the clays. But then when I taught a year in L.A. found interesting casinos chips at outdoor shows; joined the old CCA club at the insistence of Dale and Alan and fell firmly into casinos. At one point I had over 500,000 chips including Indians, Colorado. Deadwood, California, River Boats and because of that scoundrel Archie Black, Atlantic City chips; plus a growing collection of my clays, crest & seals and ivoriies. one of my favorite storries: I had a call from a Syracuse colleague (I taught at the law school) who said her aunt had a set of ivory chips she wanted to sell. I found the hosue and was greeted by a very old woman who when she learned that I belonged to the same church warmed up and took me to bed room -where she crawled under her bed and pulled out a chest - opening it i saw 700 4 color ivory chips with horse head designs. She said they were from a great uncle who owned a casino in Balston Spa NY. On the chest was a shipping lable addressed to him from a NYC firm dated 1856! She wanted $700 and I bought them. But I was just entering into my divorce and knew I couldn't spend this kind of money w/o trouble. So I called Dale and brkered them to him, keeeping 12 for me. Anedcote: I placed the case on steps leading from my kitchen to my den; one of my kids ran down the stairs, knocking over the case and spreading 700+ ivories over the tiled floor; our shepherd went after them; I went after the dog and my chips while screaming at my kid. While I recovered all of them, my daughter has despised poker chips since the (we have since made peace . Later I offered a set of four to a museum in Saratoga Springs but the curator was uninterested.
Now that I have reached the age of my old seller and moved from my home into my new small Albany apartment I had to sell my collection and today I have only my ivories and my memories.