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Posted By: Mark Anderson

Can't speak for other companies, but at Beckett, we contacted archivists at the Library of Congress when deciding upon materials. For paper, they recommended polypropylene and polystyrene, which is what we use, with some UV additive.

Mylar was their other recommendation; however the disadvantage of mylar is that is it hard and can scratch or cut whatever is inserted into it (polypro is very soft). I also can't stand it because it tends to be very crinkly and easy to crease and mark up.

We also have engineering tests that additionally state that polypro is totally inert, acid free, and has no oils/softeners/plasticizers. It is the most stable material and does not deteriorate under normal conditions.

Now, keeping that in mind, slabbed cards are not guaranteed to withstand everything. It is safest to store them in a climate-controlled area out of direct harsh lighting. UV slabs will help protect against fading, but if you sit a slabbed card in the sun for a few years, I would imagine that it might still experience some level of fading.