While on the topic of older plaques.... I came
across some pre-WWI plaques, and would you believe
these pieces were made by ceramists and of the same
(basic) composition of the full-graphics ceramic
chips we see in today's casinos (Chipco-types)? Not
only are these plaques quite large in size, they are
of 2-piece construction...such as a Bud Jones chip
having a rim independent of its center. The only
difference (somewhat) was that these older piece's
graphics were embossed instead of printed. These
are the first such pieces ever noticed by collectors
in Europe. Also, what we know as metal die-cut
inlay chips (not overlay as in the Monte-Carlo
material)...have been seen by me in an
Argentintinean's collection that were actual
plaques from an early casino in Poland. Something
on the order of the die-cut "CC/5" European jetons
I've been selling for the last few years. Lots of
pre-WWI and pre-WWII is making its way up from some
South American countries who catered to certain
groups during and after the war. Recently, some of
those group members who have passed-on
household's families [assumption, but somewhat factual] are helping in making this
stuff available in the US...especially the
Mother-of-Pearl material. I've seen recent
purchases of M-O-P chips shipped up in quantities of
1400-pieces or more....very interesting well-worn,
but probably containing lots of history as to who,
where and how....as these pieces are typical of the
artists/engravers of Dieppe and C. Caro of Paris in
years past... where most of the Worlds pearls were
finished.

JB