ANTE UP: The Collection of Robert Eisenstadt We welcome you to take part in Ante Up, the auction of the Robert Eisenstadt's incredible collection. The auction takes place on January 30, 2021 at 10:00AM CT. You can visit the auction website by clicking here. You can also view the collection that is up for auction as a PDF. If you have any questions about the auction, please contact Joseph Slabaugh (joeslabaugh@potterauctions.com, 773-472-1442) at Potter & Potter Auctions.

IN MEMORIAM: Robert Eisenstadt 1942 - 2020 On June 5, 2020, Robert Eisenstadt died peacefully at home, in the loving presence of his sister Nancy and his sister's family. He will be dearly missed by all of us who loved and appreciated him. If you would like to leave a story about Robert, write a message, or read what others have written, please click here. He took pride in his collection and loved sharing it with fellow enthusiasts; please have a look and enjoy.

Below is a picture of 6 antique wooden chip boxes.  The tops slide off just like with those old wooden chess boxes.  The reason for this page is my acquisition today (March 23, 2002) of the great U.S. Playing Card/Russell & Morgan one. The picture of the six boxes is followed by three close-up pictures.  The boxes are:

� The U.S. Playing Card/Russell & Morgan one came, just as the box states, with 1-3/8" plain clay poker chips.  They were mint.  But the printing on the box indicates that they should all be white, while the box came with red, white and blue chips ...... .... ...... The box must have been made between 1885 and 1891.  Russell & Morgan Printing Co. was formed in 1885.  The name was changed to U. S. Printing Co. in 1891 and eventually to U. S. Playing Card Co. in 1894.  For half a century, ending just after World War II, it was a major gambling chip manufacturer.

� The "Ivoroyd"  box has the paper label on the end, no printing on the top, and came with all white 1-1/4" plain clay chips.  I suppose the reference is to durability and quality.  Harris, one of the earliest (c. 1900) chip manufactures, located in Brooklyn, by the way, had on their boxes of engraved red, white and blue poker chips "INDESTRUCTIBLE IVORYOID."

� The Duranoid box says "registered April 22-84."  In it came 100 red, white and blue 1-1/2" plain clay poker chips.

� The "Diamond Chips" boxes are found every now and then.  They are neither common nor rare.  The 1-3/8" box came with red, white and blue plain clay chips of that size.  The 1-1/4" box came with brown chips of that size.  And the 1-1/2" box came with red, white and blue plain chips of that size.  I have a close-up of the Diamond Chip box (with 1-1/4" chips). Click here to see a picture of it. )
 
 

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