T206 storage? Albums, top loaders or slabs?

[Billy5858]

I'm just starting my march with the Monster.
I have always bought PSA cards, but there are so
many T206's I've decided to buy raw cards only for
The commons. Raw cards are a new thing for me so
It's pretty cool actually feeling and smelling a real card.
I'm gonna collect a low grade set because I also buy high
grade other cards too. I'll go broke.

So for me Commons I buy raw and put
into a binder 15 to a page. I don't use the
top row because it seems like they will get damaged.

Southern League and HOFs I buy
PSA 2 or 3 to keep them protected

[LuckyLarry]

Eventually I want to re-organize my cards from alphabetical order and sort by teams. I think that would be sweet.
Larry

[tiger8mush]

a couple hundred in binder pages, maybe 10-15 in slabs, and about 50 in a raw stack.

[cincyredlegs]

Great topic as I was having this same discussion this weekend with some friends. I think the answer is what you prefer as a collector.

I think if you are buying as an investment to sell then get them all graded.

If your buying as a collector and not selling (at least in the near future) then you have options. Luke brings up some good options.

I started out doing all SGC. I have decided that I am going raw IN a binder except for my HOF's and some special cards. Most of my collection is in the SGC 40 range. I will end up displaying my graded cards on the wall.

My issue with everything graded is you just don't get to enjoy them as much IMO. It's so hard to look through 500 slabs vs going through a binder.

Just my 2 cents.

Mark

[unamuzd1]

I picked "top loaders," but I actually do top loaders in albums. It can get clunky, and by the time I'm done the albums will take up a whole shelf, but it's so nice to flip through them...

[FourStrikes]

a few hundred T205-T206-T207,etc. - mixed condition - from horsesh!t (only a few!) to vg or better, housed in (16 card) album pages since I've had them.

HOFers (nothing serious - NO Cobbs, etc) are in card savers or similar.

NOTHING graded for me as of yet - I've had these since the 1980's, so all of the above work for me.

P.S.: YMMV.

[egri]

I'm curious if those of you who use binders have ever seen cards get damaged in the binder? The reason I ask is my project is currently about 1/3 in slabs and the rest in toploaders, and I'm thinking a binder will be easier to view and store, but I am worried about the safety of the cards when they're in pages.

[FourStrikes]

Originally Posted by egri

I'm curious if those of you who use binders have ever seen cards get damaged in the binder? The reason I ask is my project is currently about 1/3 in slabs and the rest in toploaders, and I'm thinking a binder will be easier to view and store, but I am worried about the safety of the cards when they're in pages.

thus far (knockin' on wood!) NO safety issues.

[LuckyLarry]

Store your binders like this, or the pages sometimes fold over. T206 set in the binder on left. The binder on the right includes some 20 pocket sheets that are a bit oversized, but they hold my '64 Topps coins so no worries.
Larry

Originally Posted by egri

I'm curious if those of you who use binders have ever seen cards get damaged in the binder? The reason I ask is my project is currently about 1/3 in slabs and the rest in toploaders, and I'm thinking a binder will be easier to view and store, but I am worried about the safety of the cards when they're in pages.

[Cozumeleno]

Originally Posted by egri

I'm curious if those of you who use binders have ever seen cards get damaged in the binder? The reason I ask is my project is currently about 1/3 in slabs and the rest in toploaders, and I'm thinking a binder will be easier to view and store, but I am worried about the safety of the cards when they're in pages.

No issues on my end. I use the Lighthouse Vario rectangular-ring (I said D-ring earlier...I meant to say the rectangular ring, which is square on all sides) binders since the circular/rounded rings can damage the sides of the cards. Even the D-ring binders have the circular edge one one side which can crimp into the side of the page when flipped depending on the pages you are using. The covers are thick and sturdy and the top of the pages sit a good 1/2" below the top of the binder. I also keep the binder inside of a slip cover to enclose the whole thing. I cannot stress how important it is to have one - I would not personally recommend using a binder without one.

Here is an example of one on eBay (not my listing): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lighthouse-V...wAAOSwwpdW5Ldo

Can damage happen to cards in a binder? Yes. More easily than toploaders? Yes. I've stored cards both ways and the cards are more protected when they are in card savers. My teenage nephew wanted to flip through my binder once and I had to show him how to carefully turn the pages. Carelessness could lead to damaging the cards if in binders. But I haven't had any problems and for my lower-grade collection, the binders work fine.

[dabigyankeeman]

Originally Posted by egri

I'm curious if those of you who use binders have ever seen cards get damaged in the binder? The reason I ask is my project is currently about 1/3 in slabs and the rest in toploaders, and I'm thinking a binder will be easier to view and store, but I am worried about the safety of the cards when they're in pages.

I have never had damage from a card once its in place. However, like a fool, in the past I have tried moving some around and in pulling a card out and putting it back in I have damaged some tobacco and strip cards. Never again, now I carefully put a card in and then never touch it. I use D-ring binders and i lay my binders FLAT, not standing up.

[bbcard1]

There are precious few parts of my collection that I am happy with the organization and display, but this is one of them. Probably twenty years ago or more I bought an antique patterns set of drawers from a retiring optometrist...It was probably $10 or so. It's not too large. (sorry for the upside down post).

It accommodates standard top loaders, which I like. I don't like how T206s flop around in the top loaders but I was able to come up with some inserts I like that I think help the cards stand out (most of my set would average G, with some highlights going to EX and the lowlights (Ohara/Demmitt) a clear P.

I put each in a top loader with an insert and then package them in a team set bag and alphabetize them. Easy access, fast to find. I can get a full 520 set in a relatively small storage area. If I ever decide to sell of the higher grade or major HOFers of course i would have them graded, but the idea of having a 500+ card set in slabs would take up an inordinate amount of room.

[dabigyankeeman]

I keep them in sheets in albums, love the way they display. As a Yankee collector, its a great display of 28 cards, and then I have my other Yankees tobacco card team sets (T205, T207) in the sheets in albums too. Also misc other old Yankee tobacco cards. I really like the look of them in the sheets, and its the easiest way IMHO to go thru and look at them.