Steve Cooper, the CSASI editor, also is editing the Overstreet book, and the
Who's Who. He has made good use of the skills in publications since becoming CSAS editor.
He sometimes makes mistakes, as we all do. I have said it before, more than a few times, it's virtually impossible to determine reproductions from authentic relics 100% of the time from photographs.
Even visual inspections in person are difficult without magnification to accurately see authentic mineralization. I have had relics I found pointed out by a few collectors as reproductions. Of course, I pointed out they did not use magnification and were not wearing their glasses. How they can determine authentic relic like that, I don't know. Maybe they are mistics.
I have a number of Overstreet books, but only have bought one of them, way back in the day. The others I have picked up here and there over the years.
Got one at the local library for $5.00 when it was "withdrawn" from circulation a few years ago. In fact, I have gotten a number of AMAZING relic books "withdrawn" from circulation over the years. Keep an eye out for these.
Like all publications, the Overstreet book its meant as a guide, not a hard and fast rule for an accurate value figure on a relic in my view.
When I submitted relics to Lar Hothem the first time, he requested a blurb on each relic included in this was the collectors value on the relic. So this, in my view was not an objective accurate value. Since many collectors included an intrinsic value on their relics.
Too many think an eBay asking price or a printed figure in a Hotem or Overstreet book is the value to ask for rock, even if the rock is not authentic. Nuts.