Even a minor imperfection could cause a valuable sports card to lose value. These must be carefully stored and handled to prevent damage and to keep them in mint condition. Store and handle your valuable sports cards in a way that will help them stay valuable by following these easy tips:
Make sure that your hands are clean before you hold your sports cards, and only hold them at their edges
Handle the cards carefully to prevent damage and ensure their lasting value. With clean hands, take hold of the cards on their edges, not on their face or back. This will help ensure that corners are kept sharp and faces are clean and free from scratches, stains, and other marks. Careful handling keeps your sports cards free from unsightly imperfections.
Don’t expose your sports trading cards to such things as sunlight or water
Protecting your cards from direct sunlight and humidity is important. Autographed sports cards are more susceptible to fading so like your other cards, you should always protect them from sunlight. Also do not expose them to humid and moist places that can cause the cards to be damaged, discolored, and degraded. Using a silica gel in your display case can prevent damage from moisture in the environment.
Make sure you get thick cases to protect your cards
Plastic sleeves are good for providing basic protection for your sports cards, but harder, thicker cases are better for maximum protections from dings, creases and scratches on your valuable collection. Sports card holders, most frequently used ones, here are some of them.
Top-loader. A top-loader is similar to a sleeve but somewhat thicker and stiffer. It is often used to protect sports cards from getting bent and creased. The drawback with a top-loader, however, is that dust and other particles can get inside. The card will slip because of the loose fit. When shipping a card using a top-loader, you can use a resealable sports card bag that will enclose the entire top-loader.
Hard card holders. This plastic case is more flexible than a top-loader, but still thicker than the common sleeves. A perfect fit is very important when protecting sports cards during the shipping process. Even if you display your valuable sports card inside a display cabinet, this case will also look good.
Card holder, screwed down. This tough plastic case protects your sports cards from all kinds of damage including folding and scratches. Your card gets secured firmly in the case by being screwed down at each corner. The thickness has to be right for your sports card or else they can get stuck if they sit in the case for a prolonged time.
A magnetic case is a handy option you will find useful many times! An alternative case to the screw-down holder is the magnetic case. It provides comparable protection to the screw-down holder, but instead of the four screws locking the card, it only uses one circular magnet on the upper part of the case. It’s a good option for displaying valuable sports cards because of its design feature.
Holder made of acrylic. This is both the most costly and the thickest of all the sports card cases available. With up to an inch of acrylic, this offers excellent protection for your valuable cards.
Boxes should be used to arrange your sports cards
If you intend to display your valuable cards, they should be arranges in a box so people can look through them. You can store your ball cards in just about any small box, or you can purchase specially made boxes at shops that also sell sports cards. Using one of the available sorting trays may help you to organize your collection. Never store valuable sports cards in your box without any protection. Always protect your valuable cards using at least a top-loader. For your other sports cards or base cards, you may use plastic sleeves.
Sports cards can make for a priceless collection and a valuable investment. Regardless of your motivation for collecting sports cards, it is important to take care of them in order to protect their value.
