[AceDeuceNoUse]

Sorry if this has been asked elsewhere, but I have a sales question that involves practicality, profitability, and perhaps even "collector etiquette".

I have a set of identical antique monogrammed clay chips, numbering about 250 in good playable condition. I really don't have much use for them on a playing basis, although I'm sure someone else may appreciate them for either collecting or playing purposes. There really aren't enough chips to constitute even a full set (perhaps for travel); they may only server as fill-ins for an existing set. My question is, should I sell them all as single offering, or in 3 lots (100, 100, 50), or try to sell the odd 50+ as singles?

I think I recall reading somewhere on this site that breaking up a larger quantity set is sometimes considered bad form, and I want to keep with the spirit of enhancing the chipper community.

I'd appreciate any thoughts/feedback.

P.S. I know a lot of answers will begin with "it depends", but I'd appreciate them anyway.

[Couga]

Breaking up a set is not bad form. They belong to you, you can throw them away if you like.

If you think you can make more money by splitting them up then do so. It gives more people an opportunity to own some nice chips.

It is entirely up to you.

- Couga

[Cidertown]

If the set is highly collectible, like vintage TR Kings, then I think it is in your interest to keep it together. In that case, the playability of the set will be secondary to its value as a collectible. It might take longer to find a buyer, but when you do, you'll get a good price.

If it's not a particularly collectible set, then you might make more money selling them in lots or individually. Frankly, I doubt anyone would be playing with them (unless they happen to have the same initials as the monogram), in which case they are going to go to collectors who get one or two of each chip. If they go in lots, I'm guessing it will be to a dealer who will, in turn, break them up and sell them individually as collectibles.

It's not clear if there are different colors, but if there are, I would advise selling them in sets of equal numbers of each color, e.g. 1 white, 1 red, 1 yellow. Makes it more interesting to the collector.

[AceDeuceNoUse]

Thanks for the feedback so far.

These chips can only aspire to be as desirable as vintage TR Kings. These are all the same color, orange smkey's, ca. late 40's early 50's. The lot I purchased was 500+ or so, but about half of them were damaged/warped beyond playability. I don't know if the damaged half would garner any interest, so I assembled/cleaned/oiled all those that were worthy of stacking, and ended up with about 250.

[Freelancer72]

do you have any pics of the chips?

[Trav]

Originally Posted by AceDeuceNoUse

Thanks for the feedback so far.

These chips can only aspire to be as desirable as vintage TR Kings. These are all the same color, orange smkey's, ca. late 40's early 50's. The lot I purchased was 500+ or so, but about half of them were damaged/warped beyond playability. I don't know if the damaged half would garner any interest, so I assembled/cleaned/oiled all those that were worthy of stacking, and ended up with about 250.

[AceDeuceNoUse]

I'll snap a few pics and post when I get home later tonight.

[AceDeuceNoUse]

Sorry for the delay - here's a taste