Beacon Journal | Poker memorabilia cashing in

Beacon Journal | Poker memorabilia cashing in Unusual chips, holders, cards, rule books, even tables drawing collectors - By Ralph and Terry Kovel Poker has become the hot game of the year. Poker tournaments are featured on several TV networks, and ratings are high. This might be the time to collect poker memorabilia. There are many theories about the origins of the game. Some say it is based on a Chinese game invented about A.D. 900. Others think it is a revision of an 18th century game called poque, played by French settlers in New Orleans. Or the name of the game might have come from the term ``hocus-pocus.'' By 1843, poker was a well-known game played on Mississippi riverboats. By then, an observer had already written about the rules of the game, which he called the ``cheating game.'' Poker tables were soon in most towns in the West. Poker rules changed through the years. The draw and the straight became popular during the Civil War, and the joker as a wild card came into use about 1875. Poker chips are collected by many. Modern casinos usually have chips with designs featuring the name of the casino or important events or people. Early chips were made from colored plastic, wood or ``clay'' (clay and composite material). Today, collectors pay anywhere from a few dollars to $100 for unusual old chips. The large, round, revolving holders for chips and cards were popular by the 1930s. Holders are made of plastic or wood today, but before 1950 most were wood. Collectors also want cards, tables, rule books, ads for casinos and poker events, even table covers. Value rises if the memorabilia can be associated with an important person or a famous, long-gone casino.