Storage question

[trobba]

Hi all,

I have a question about storage of topps' sets. I have sets from the late 70's in a cardboard row holder (like the SGC cardboard holders but smaller). The cards stay tight and protected but they are bowing, which I assume will only get worse over time. Is there a better storage idea, I guess the plastic pages of 9 is the best? Just rueing the thought of loading thousands of cards into individual holders...Anyone have an opinion on this? Does the bowing get worse and ultimately become unfixable?

thanks - Rob

[darrend505]

I have all of my Topps sets, all 36 of them, in 900 count boxes. All of my cards are in penny sleeves which help take up some space, and to make up any remaining space I use foam dividers so that there is not a ton of pressure. No bowing at all!

[ALR-bishop]

I have my Topps sets, 1948 and 1951 to 2010, and Fleer 1923 and 1959 to 2006 in sheets in binders. I like to be able to have easy access to them all. But I am strictly a collector. If keeping them for investment or sale potential, I don't recommend it.

[theseeker]

Why are cards held in sheets in binders not recommended for investment purposes? Most collectors have the same demands on preservation as do investors.

[Exhibitman]

Cards take a beating in binders unless you use layers of holders. I use Cardsaver I holders in four-pocket sheets inside clamshell binders. Not the most efficient for large sets (fortunately not my thing) but very secure for thumbing through.

[ALR-bishop]

Originally Posted by theseeker

Why are cards held in sheets in binders not recommended for investment purposes? Most collectors have the same demands on preservation as do investors.

Did not mean to be critical of keeping cards in sheets in binders. That is how I do it. But I collect ungraded cards and like to have ongoing access to them in the binders. So the binders get opened and the pages turned a lot. Plus even putting them in the sheets when full sets are involved can involve risk. Being careful can minimize risk, but when you have lot of sets ( around 200 in my case) even a few careless slides can be costly if investment grade cards are an important goal.

[vintagetoppsguy]

I tried binders years ago, but they always leave the top of the cards exposed (on the top row) as they do not fit all the way down into the pocket and leave the cards susceptible to dings. Why Ultra Pro can't seem to fix this problem after all these years I'll never know. Anyway, I have 2 different storage methods depending on the year/value of the set. Both examples are shown below. Please excuse the bad photos - they were taken with my camera phone.

Here is my method of storage for a lower value set. This is a '78 Topps set in NM-MT+ raw condition.

The cards are placed in an 800 count box.


I use a spacer before and after the last cards to protect them from dings. These were from some Upper Deck (I believe) product that I got from my local card shop. He saves them for me and I use them for shipping or whatever.


Minor rookies and lesser HOFers are placed in penny sleeves.


Those are placed at the back of the set.


All cards are pushed together and held tightly in place taking up any extra space in the box. The cards should not slide. You can use waded up newspaper or whatever you choose. I've used plastic grocery bags in the pics below.


The major rookies and more popular HOFers are placed in Ultra Pro semi rigid top loaders and this is what it looks like as I close it up.



For more expensive sets, I place each individual card in Ultra Pro semi rigid top loaders and they are stored in vault boxes as shown with my 1954 Topps set below. If the set is too big for a vault box, you can always use the shoe boxes (2 row).


Any extra space is filled so that the cards do not slide.


The lid is placed on top and it is stored away.