How long are graded holders supposed to last?

Mickey71

Is there a point where cards need to be reholdered? I've never heard this discussed. How long are these good for. I'm sure I have some holders from 1993 or so. Is the plastic always going to be good as long if it is not cracked? Any answers from anyone would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mickey71

Mickey71

BUMP

clydecoolidge

Well in the theme of "earth day," I would bet that folks would rally if a million graded card slabs ended up in land fills each year, so based on that, I think they last a long time.

nightcrawler

<< <i>Well in the theme of "earth day," I would bet that folks would rally if a million graded card slabs ended up in land fills each year, so based on that, I think they last a long time. >>




Agreed, the microbs on our planet haven't been able to eat away at plastic. The slabs could last thousands of years. Only the sun can harm them.

11235813

I don't know how long the holders are supposed to last, but unless it's from ASA, it can't be from 1993, as I don't think any of the other grading companies even existed until around 1998-1999.

WinPitcher

PSA has been around since 1992 I think.

Steve

Stone193

<< <i>PSA has been around since 1992 I think.

Steve >>

Agree Steve

I met Mike Baker at the National in 1992 when PSA was very young.

Two companies before PSA were ASA and Superlative.

SGC came a bit later - went belly up I believe and then came back - and very successful.

I think the 'half-life' of a PSA holder is about 10,000 yrs - give or take a few?

mike

WinPitcher

Actually it (PSA) was founded in 1991



Collectors Universe Chairman, David Hall, founded PCGS in 1986 and PSA in 1991. He has been one of the major dealers in the rare coin market since the early 1970’s and is recognized as one of the world’s top collectibles experts.



Steve

Allen

Given the success of the new half grade system, I would not be surprised if PSA comes out in a few years with a new and better case. Ofcourse you will have to pay to have your cards reslabbed.

storm888

Absent a new breed of microbe, a safe estimate is likely in the 300 to 400 year range.
Such microbes have been created and are used in recycling, but they do not exist
naturally in the environment.

Kept in a dark place - away from sunlight - the slab life-span could be even longer.

Hundreds of years from now, it will likley not be uncommon to find PSA-slabs
that are fully intact; while the cards that were within them have TOTALLY vanished
or turned to dust!!!!!


YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WinPitcher

At that point you buy the holder and not the card!

Steve

WarHoundR69

Actually CGC (SGC Comic Grading Sister), recommends that comics be reslabbed every few years. Don't know much more than that. All my comics are low grade readers.

nightcrawler

Steve, that's hilarious



<< <i>
Hundreds of years from now, it will likley not be uncommon to find PSA-slabs
that are fully intact; while the cards that were within them have TOTALLY vanished
or turned to dust!!!!!


YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >>





<< <i> Given the success of the new half grade system, I would not be surprised if PSA comes out in a few years with a new and better case. Ofcourse you will have to pay to have your cards reslabbed. >>






Maybe PSA will come up with a vacuum sealed case... or one injected with some kind of gas???

Not a bad idea for some cards.

stevek

If you wanna preserve them for a long time, just bury them, eventually they'll become fossilized and those anthropologists digging millions of years from now will discover them and then they can be enjoyed for millions of years more.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

I dont know about holders but were working on making poly bags for produce (Potatoes/Oranges) that are quickly biodegradable. We can control on how quick they break down. I picture someone making a mistake at the plant and when I go to do inventory they are all gone. lol

WinPitcher

The CGC plastic and the baseball card holders are different.

Steve

DrJ

Here is one of PSA's first adds in a Legends magazine from 1993. Their slabs have lasted a good 15 years so I wouldn't worry.

Estil

<< <i>Absent a new breed of microbe, a safe estimate is likely in the 300 to 400 year range.
Such microbes have been created and are used in recycling, but they do not exist
naturally in the environment.

Kept in a dark place - away from sunlight - the slab life-span could be even longer.

Hundreds of years from now, it will likley not be uncommon to find PSA-slabs
that are fully intact; while the cards that were within them have TOTALLY vanished
or turned to dust!!!!!


YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >>



But what about those Dead Sea Scrolls and other thousands-years-old documents and such? I have always wondered how sports cards will be viewed at least a few hundred years from now.