Every collector of cards needs to know how to properly store them and prevent them from deteriorating. Usually, people who like to collect these cards love to look at their beauty and show them off to their friends and other admirers. Here are some tips on how to achieve this goal and make your cards safe and in good condition all the time.
The first thing a novice collector should understand is that several elements can influence the value of their cards that are absolutely beyond their control. Unfortunately, damage on cards can range from off-center artwork to scratches on the holo background. However, you have control over how you handle the item once it is removed from the booster pack. And it cannot be overstated how critical this period is. To put things in perspective, the difference in value between a PSA 10 and a PSA 9 graded card can be as much as $30,000.
Penny Sleeves
These ridiculously low-cost plastic sleeves are a must-have. Put your rare holographic card in a penny sleeve the moment you break open your booster pack and lift it out. There are also options to customize your own sleeve like at customcardsleeves.com where you can let your imagination loose. We all know that it’s natural to yell and dance before looking at the card. However, you must be wise and sleeve it first before looking at it.
Toploaders
After securing your card in a penny sleeve, we recommend loading it into a Toploader. They are not as inexpensive as the sleeves, but they are still economical. This tougher shell will not only protect the card from bumps but will also be required by many grading companies. Not everyone has the financial means to have their cards graded immediately away. Simply put, the best approach to ensure that your card’s value is preserved is to send it out as soon as you’ve secured it in a Toploader.
Storage
While the first three steps are the most crucial, you’ll need somewhere to keep your secured cards. Collectors have differing perspectives on this, but we’ve compiled a list of the finest storage alternatives for your cards.
Grading — It goes without saying that getting your cards graded is the best way to store them. Not only will the number significantly boost the value of your cards, but they will also be mailed to you in a safe hard case. It will be much safer to store your cards once they are in this shell case.
Tins – A lot of cards come in tins. Using them to store your top-loaded holos is a low-cost way to recycle TCG packaging.
Binders – If you’re going to use a binder, avoid ones that allow you to put your cards in back-to-back slots. Backing should be used to distinguish one card from another. Use a binder with the pages attached to the spine rather than a ring binder. Binders are recommended for non-holographic and lesser rare cards kept in penny or card sleeves.
Box – If you’re using a box or a metal container, make sure there’s not too much space for the cards to slide around. If your card has already been graded, this is less of an issue.
Avoid
While this is a contentious issue, the majority of collectors agree that wearing cotton gloves or any other form of coverage is not a good idea. Handling delicate collectibles with gloves on can cause more harm than good, just as it might with antique books and paintings. Even the tiniest scratch on a Pokemon card might lower its grade by an entire grade, costing you hundreds of dollars.
Playmats- For Players
The easiest way to keep your cards in mint condition is to use a playmat every time you pull them out to play. The best part about playmats is that you may choose whatever pattern and style you want to express your individuality. To avoid scratching your treasured cards, a high-quality mat should be constructed of a robust and smooth cloth. You should also get a machine-washable playing mat for easier maintenance and a longer lifespan.
Create a System
Caring for your TCG cards will be a lot easier if you have your own organizing system in place that fits your lifestyle. You can organize your cards by subject or edition to make it easier to find a certain card without causing havoc with the rest of your collection. Overhandling your cards makes them more fragile, therefore you’ll be able to avoid this problem entirely if you use a particular approach.
Keeping your cards in good condition can be very problematic but if you care for them properly, there should not be any problems. Hopefully, these tips will help you with keeping your beloved cards in good condition.
