June 19, 2008, Las Vegas, NV - The painting, "The Early Days in Las Vegas", by noted artist Carlos Cartagena, was won by George Maloof of the Palms Hotel & Casino. The sale, for the benefit of the Museum of Gaming History (MOGH), was held during the Casino Chip & Gaming Token Collectors Club's (CC&GTCC) 16th Annual Convention's opening banquet.

Mr. Maloof's bid of $3,500 won the Carlos Cartagena painting and brought the Museum Fund one step closer to it's goal, the Museum of Gaming History. Mr. Maloof, however, took it one very large and very gracious step further. Upon winning the Cartagena painting Mr. Maloof donated it back to the MOGH to be placed on display in the museum. The CC&GTCC responded in kind by deciding to present Mr. Maloof with a framed, signed and nummbered print (1/1000) of the "The Early Days in Las Vegas".

The painting, "The Early Days in Las Vegas" (above center), created by Cartagena specifically for the Museum Fund, depicts the artist's vision of an earlier time in Las Vegas, a time representative of the history that the MOGH seeks to study and preserve.

In a statement made today the Board of Directors of the CC&GTCC, the Club's membership, and the Museum Fund Committee all expressed their thanks and gratitude to George Maloof for his generosity.

CC&GTCC club member David Spragg, one of the project's key co-ordinators, added, "My own thanks also to those who made this possible, not least Carlos (Cartagena) himself and Tracy Crump, and to the folks at Tiny Treasures for their donation of the museum quality frame for the painting."

NOTE: 22" x 17" high quality prints are now available at modest prices (+ mailing tube and/or shipping if required) along with two different framing options for the prints. Chips depicting the painting are also available. For purchase information visit Museum Fund - Carlos Cartagena page.

The net proceeds from all print and chip sales go to the Museum Fund.