Whether you are a collector of football cards, or hockey cards or have succumbed to another sport (e.g. Octagon), everyone has faced one first glance small, but very important question at the beginning of collecting: How and where to store your collection?

At the outset, it should be noted that everyone decides for himself how to save the cards. In our article, we try to present the most common and safest ways to store cards.

Why is it so important to pay attention to the correct storage of cards?

Every single trading card has its own value, and the collector's effort should be to preserve this value. The first prerequisite for maintaining the value of cards is their safe storage.

We know several options for storing cards.The appropriate type of packaging depends primarily on the intention of its use and the type of card itself.

Safe storage of the card will help us prevent deterioration in the form of damage caused by bad handling (falling of the card and damage to the corners, destruction of edges or scratches), but also from other undesirable influences, such as daylight (fading of the card) or small dust particles.

Albums 

One of the most common ways to store cards is to store them in albums. These allow us to view the collection at any time, but rarer or thicker cards do not belong in them.

Storing cards in albums:

• it includes only thinner cards that fit comfortably in the foil
• we place only 1 card in each window of the film, which is visible from both sides
• we increase the security of the card if we first insert the card into the so-called insert the sleeve and then the wrapped card into the foil

+ the advantage of storing cards in an album is the visual side. The collector can take out the album at any time, view it, add to it or organize it in another way and conveniently put it away again

- the disadvantage is incomplete protection against dust. Albums and foils cannot prevent dust particles from entering the foils. Dust inside the foil can scratch the card

Hard packaging

In general, we recognize two types of rigid packaging:

• Toploader
• One Touch Holder

Toploader is a one-piece cover made of soft plastic, which is open at the top so that we can conveniently insert a card into it.

It is produced in different thicknesses for all types of cards (from the thinnest to the thickest). Due to easier handling of the card, the height and width of the toploader are slightly larger than the dimensions of the card itself.

Before storing the card in the toploader, we put it in a thin sleeve, which helps protect the card from unwanted scratches or other surface damage.

If the security of the card is of primary importance to us, we can insert the toploader with the card into the so-called team bag, which can be described very simply as a "sleeve bag on a Toploader". The card wrapped in this way is sufficiently protected and prevents dust from entering the heatsink or other damage.

One touch holder (you may also come across the label "one touch", "holder" or "magnet") is perhaps the best protective case for cards. It is made of hardened plastic and has 2 parts that are connected by a tiny magnet (also for this reason, the name "magnet" has become popular among some collectors).

The smaller part of the holder can be easily separated from the case in which the card is inserted. Just like heat-loaders, these covers are produced in different thicknesses, but the height and width of the cover is fully adapted to the size of the card. The card thus "fits" perfectly into the one touch holder.

Once closed, the magnetic One touch holder protects the cards from external influences, including the ingress of dust.

Most One Touch holders are made of plastic with UV protection, but exposing the cards to daylight is still not recommended. The risk of visual damage to the card due to color fading or damage to the card material under the influence of higher temperature is very high, which results in a reduction in the value of the card or even its absolute depreciation.

Storing cards in boxes

Another way to store cards is to store them in boxes. These are specially adapted boxes produced in multiple sizes. They allow for storing hundreds to thousands of cards.

Undoubtedly, the advantage is the price and space saving (e.g. compared to albums). The cards are protected from the sun and dust, but those collectors who like to view their collections quite often or present them to others feel a big disadvantage.

The boxes also do not allow cards to be stored in toploaders or one touch holders. Cards can only be stored in a soft sleeve. It is also necessary to remember that in the event of an accidental fall of the box, its entire contents may become invalid.

Storing cards in special custom-made cases (and boxes)

For the most demanding collectors, there is an option to store their cards in special cases. From the inside, they are covered with foam padding, so they are resistant to falls.

Cards in plastic cases are usually stored in briefcases and are primarily intended for the rarest collector's items.

In addition, in the collecting community, the possibilities of custom-made box production are expanding more and more, according to specified parameters or even according to a pre-agreed visual (player's name, etc.).

Now you know that whether you are collecting cards from the basic set or the rarest, low-limit pieces, it is necessary to remember the essential protection of the cards.

Whether you choose albums with foils, toploaders or magnetic one touch holders is entirely up to you.

Collecting is about joy and free choice of what and how to collect.

We wish you that your albums or specially adapted cases fill up as quickly as possible! :)