How to store trading cards

A card is not ruined over a year but in one careless moment: a scratch on the foil, a bent corner, a fingerprint. The good news is that protecting it is simple and cheap.

A sleeve, straight away

Put a valuable card into a soft sleeve as soon as it is yours. Hold it by the edges, with clean, dry hands. Particularly valuable cards are often double-sleeved: a tight inner sleeve and an outer one against dust.

Rigid protection for what matters

A toploader or a magnetic case keeps a card from bending in storage and in the post. The card goes in already sleeved, so the plastic cannot scratch it.

A binder — only the right one

• PVC-free pages: PVC plastic can damage a card's surface over time.
• Side-loading pockets, so cards do not slide out.
• No rings pressing on the cards by the spine, or D-ring binders.

Where to keep the collection

Best of all: dry, cool and dark. Direct sun fades the print and humidity makes cards curl. Keep the collection away from radiators, windowsills and damp basements; silica gel packets in the box are a cheap way to keep moisture down.

The rule is simple: a card you would hate to lose should not spend a single day unprotected.