Best Way to Store Certified Autos, or reasons for Fading?!

[ragtop12]

So I recently been noticing more and more certified autos on ebay that are faded, or what not. I know some of these are caused by screw downs, and the card gets stuck on the screw down pulling the auto off too.

My question is, what is the best way to store certified autos to prevent this? I current do not use any screw downs, but just top loaders (card in penny sleeve first). I fear though, the if the card is too tight in the toploader, the same thing could happen to the signature. I never cram them into toploaders, but still. Just a fear of mine.

Any suggestions or horror stories would be great so I know what not to do, and what I should do.

Thanks!
Obed

 

[mrmopar]

I would guess a majority of the fading is caused by light exposure and bad material/inks. The Sweet Spots are an example. I think I read where synthetic balls were used and those have faded and bled quite a bit.

As far as I can tell, storing in protective sleeves/pages or toploaders is fine. Long term affects are probably not well documented in our hobby and changes to the types of materials used in the protective items has supposedly improved.

I would seek advise from those who collect signed documents, photos and such and have done so for many many years.

I keep my photos and other larger than card sized flats in pages/binders and all of my cards in toploaders.

 

[David K.]

I have autographed baseballs....of Steve Carlton and Willie McCovey in their original boxes. Best regards, David

 

[ragtop12]

I would guess a majority of the fading is caused by light exposure and bad material/inks. The Sweet Spots are an example. I think I read where synthetic balls were used and those have faded and bled quite a bit.

As far as I can tell, storing in protective sleeves/pages or toploaders is fine. Long term affects are probably not well documented in our hobby and changes to the types of materials used in the protective items has supposedly improved.

I would seek advise from those who collect signed documents, photos and such and have done so for many many years.

I keep my photos and other larger than card sized flats in pages/binders and all of my cards in toploaders.

Yeah sounds like we have similar storage habits. As for the Sweet Spot, the one year they are super bad. Even if you don't expose them to light, they faded like crazy. Thanks for the input though.
Obed

 

[ragtop12]

I have autographed baseballs....of Steve Carlton and Willie McCovey in their original boxes. Best regards, David

Yeah the few auto baseballs I have are stored away in their original boxes too.

 

[bear0555]

I've seen a card stick to a sleeve (chrome or bowman's best) and smear an auto. Otherwise, it shouldn't be much of an issue. It past years, I believe the plastic used for signed cards and refractors & up are of better quality than the base cards. And when I have autographs out on my desk, I always put them face down. I really can't stand when dealers let their signed cards fade the way that they do.

 

[ragtop12]

I've seen a card stick to a sleeve (chrome or bowman's best) and smear an auto. Otherwise, it shouldn't be much of an issue. It past years, I believe the plastic used for signed cards and refractors & up are of better quality than the base cards. And when I have autographs out on my desk, I always put them face down. I really can't stand when dealers let their signed cards fade the way that they do.

Ahhh I never thought about the faded cards coming from Dealers who may have had the faded card in a showcase for years exposed to ****** lighting or even the sun!