Question for those that collect signed photos

[sbfinley]

An artist friend of mine educated me on "archival" pens and markers not long ago. She stated all sharpies will fade, eventually, regardless of where and how you store your items. The same is true for Staedtler markers as well. These and other similar markers are almost universally alcohol and dye based. These ingredients will degrade with certainty. Factors such as light, humidity, and temperature can and will accelerate the process, but this breakdown will occur regardless over time. I asked what sort of pens/markers I could use to prevent this and she said India ink. I have no reason to doubt her statements, but I also haven't taken the effort to see if India ink is viable for autographs and on what mediums it would work.

[hawaiian bam bam]

Thanks guys for your advice/opinions, i appreciate it. thats very interesting about sharpie fading over time as ive always thought that but thought that i was the only one in the hobby that thought that sharpie fades over time. i say this because. everything i have collected over the past 30-40 years has faded.(all stored in the dark out of the light)

baseball bats signed in sharpie-faded
photos signed in sharpie-faded
trading cards signed in sharpie-faded
certified pack pulled autographs-faded
perez steele postcards signed in sharpie-faded
baseballs signed in ballpoint pen-faded

im to the point now where im like, damn! what can we collect in this hobby that wont fade over time? signed index cards (signed in ballpoint pen)

when a light bulb turned on in my head that sharpies fade, i have sold approx 70% of my collection so far as id rather get what i can get for it now versus being stuck with a bunch of faded items!

[earlywynnfan]

I've been collecting about 25 years, and my photos haven't faded at all. Less than 5% of my baseballs (pen) have faded. baseballs I've bought with sharpie sigs haven't faded. (I'll buy a sharpie sig if it's over 20 years old and still looks perfect.)

Something's wrong here.

Ken

[hawaiian bam bam]

hey ken,
i think either i have very bad luck or what could be if i dont know how the previous owner of the items i bought on ebay stored/displayed the items. they could of put the photos on a wall in direct sunlight for years or could of displayed the bats and balls on a shelf next to a window facing the sun. certified autos could of been in a dealers showcase for years under flourescent store lights. so that could be a HUGE factor in my items fading is i just dont know how the previous owners took care of the items before i bought them.whats interesting is my very first ttm autograph i got in the 1980's signed in sharpie still look great! and a ttm autograph i got in the mail from a player recently looks like the sharpie is already fading on a newer card.