Let's discuss how we store our cards........

For some reason I am always curious how people store their cards. Maybe it stems from me worrying if I am storing my cards appropriately. I have heard many rumors over the years of how to store cards, especially raw cards, such as they should be kept in a binder, in top loaders, screwdowns, penny sleeves, shoe boxes, etc. For the past 6 or 7 years that I have been in the hobby I have accumulated a decent number of prewar cards. Not to many, maybe 150-200 and I am going to break down how I store them below. My collection consist of raw and graded cards. Most of my raw cards I bought graded and cracked them out. Below is my exact collection and how they are stored:

1.) I have a 1933 sport kings set psa graded set that is almost complete. I keep it in a binder with four card pages. It presents really nice, however, the only problem I have is that the PSA slabs are thinner than SGC slabs and they tend to slide out of their spots in the plastic pages. Not a big deal, just a little annoying.

2.) My high end cards are all graded by either sgc or psa. They are cards of Cobb, Jackson, Matty, Wagner, Ruth, Mantle, old judges and a few others. I also keep these in a binder with four card pages. Now this one is locked up and put away, so unfortunately I don't get to view it as much as I want to. But, I understand that because of the value of these cards, it's best to just put them away.

3.) I am collecting raw T206's and T210's. I am trying to collect and put together both sets. I am collecting the T206 set by team and I just completed the NY Giants. Most of these cards are in the g-vg range. Almost all of them I bought graded and cracked them out. Now with these two sets I have them in a claim-shell binder so the weight of the binder won't push down on the cards. Additionally, they are all in 15-card pages and they look incredible! I love looking at the backs of the cards almost as much as the fronts because of the different advertising companies.

Thats pretty much my collection. The binder which houses my raw t206 and t210 set I store flat on it's back and I have heard it might be better to store it on it's spine. Is that true?

Let's hear how you guys store your collection!

Jeff

All raw and in acid free sheets in binders except my beater t206 Plank is in an SGC A holder and my 1952 Topps Mantle is holdered.

I feel the 3rd party grading should only have 2 grades total. Authentic Unaltered AU and Authentic Altered AA.

If they did away with the numbers, I would have more cards graded as I do like the look of the SGC holders.

safe deposit box

My childhood sets are in plastic pages in a binder. My most valuable cards in SGC holders. the rest are in raw in acid free holders in an MJ Roop box

Jay

Are there any tricks to storing raw cards? I once heard that you need to store raw cards that are in a binder on its spine so the cards do not bend. Any truth to that? Any other words of wisdom?

Jeff

i like to store my raw cards in a penny sleeve in a toploader in a team bag...i triple bag it! if i have alot of them i would buy a box and have them all lined up. slabbed cards are everywhere in my room, because it doesn't matter how they're stored...numbers sell!

imo it's cumbersome to put slabbed cards in those plastic binders like raw cards...i also don't like raw cards in those binder type or card savers...cards can be bent or dinged or folded...toploaders are the bee's knees.

I tack mine to the wall all over my bedroom along with my pennants. Also, I like to take out my 1952 Topps High #'s and flip 'em with my grandpa out behind the garage when he's taking a break from working on his car. That way he gets a lot of grease all over them and it make this story even more rediculous.

My binders are stacked on top of each other about 4 or 5 binders high in my safes. Safe deposit box is a very safe idea but I enjoy my cards and spend time with them each night in the basement. They are not an investment, they are my hobby.

Taking 28 different Washington Times cards out of the 9 pocket sheets and handling them is a major rush!! I hold them like a deck of cards and leaf through them. Then have the pleasure of replacing them or tucking them into their 9 pocket sheets for the evening.

You don't put them in the spokes of your bike? That's what I do with my really thick cards like Gypsy Queens. My bicycle sounds like a Harley

Jay

r337man wrote:Safe deposit box is a very safe idea but I enjoy my cards and spend time with them each night in the basement. They are not an investment, they are my hobby.

They are my hobby too and I don't want anyone stealing my hobby while I'm away from home. I enjoy scans of my collection instead.

r337man wrote:Taking 28 different Washington Times cards out of the 9 pocket sheets and handling them is a major rush!!

Holy Crap! 28 Washington Times? That would be a sight to see.


I agree that leafing through your treasures from time to time is half the fun.

Dan - you cracked your wash times cobby out of its holder?

Hell yea I did, that puppy was only entombed long enough to be registered with SGC then IMMEDIATELY out!!!

Don't want your investment I mean cards stolen?? me neither, mine are in safes that are so heavy that if someone can pick them up, I will hold the door for them

I enjoy my cards, have fun going to the bank

Scans?? You can enjoy scans of anyones collection not just yours.

Hell if I collected scans, I would have the greatest collection ever

There is nothing like holding them every night, handling them and causing WEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ben if you ever make it down to Maryland you are very welcome to see the Washington Times cards.

r337man wrote:

There is nothing like holding them every night, handling them and causing WEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

very creepy but ok.

I store most of my cards in Ultra Pro sleeves and then a Ultra Pro card saver so they are double protected. I do have many rare back T206s and types in SGC holders.

Ben-I have seen and held those Washington Times cards-WOW! I also looked at a couple other cards while I was there.

Also received the T215-1 and put it in an Ultra Pro.

No argument that I am creepy!!! Good description!

cool, we finally agree on something!

Jim Rivera cfc1909 wrote:Also received the T215-1 and put it in an Ultra Pro.

Great, enjoy the card Jim

Do you have other Red Crosses as well? I have a feeling it's not your first.

r337man wrote:Ben if you ever make it down to Maryland you are very welcome to see the Washington Times cards.

Thanks Dan, I will most definitely take you up on that if I'm in your neck of the woods. Would be great to see some of your other goodies as well, like that amazing J=K Wagner in your avatar.

Dan - If I am ever in maryland, I will have to invite myself over to touch and smell your cobb!

rman444 wrote:Dan - If I am ever in maryland, I will have to invite myself over to touch and smell your cobb!

a true collector would eat it.

No need, you are officially invited by me! Anytime and yes, please I love having a reason to pull the goodies out.

We can have a smorgasbord (not sure I spelled that correctly)

Thanks, Dan. If I am around, I'll look you up and bring some of my Cobbs. But you will have to keep your stinkin plastic cracking hands to yourself!

Great, enjoy the card Jim

Do you have other Red Crosses as well? I have a feeling it's not your first.

Ben, you are right-not my first

Here are some images to show how I store my cards. The bulk of my collection is in a nice tobacco card binder with a slipcase (these are relatively expensive but well worth the investment); I have the rest of my collection in smaller photo boxes (purchased from The Container Store) and a cigar box. My larger items (photos, cabinet photos, bats, etc.) are mostly on display.