How were cards kept gem mint?

lightningboy

I'm not even going to debate the realistic possibility of a 50+ year old card truly being higher grade/better condition than a 2013, I'm just curious how people stored cards from 50/60 70 years ago to keep them virtually perfect. Any insight or first hand experiences is appreciated.

CollectorAtWork

I think some people always buy a set each year, and then just leave them in their closet, so they don't get damaged. This was even back then before factory sets, where you had to buy sets and hand collate them. However, I would guess most of the mint cards come from (1) unopened material or (2) people who weren't really interested in cards. That is, some kids might have gotten some cards are presents, but they didn't really care for them, so they just stuck them in a box where they continued to be in pristine condition. A similar is example is how the "Black Swamp" E98's survived so long in mint condition when they are ~100 years old. The guy had a bunch of these, and just put the extras that weren't given away in his attic.

vladguerrero

Doesn't really have much to do with your question but I specifically enjoy high grade cards that were not available in Traded Sets, Factory Sets, Bagged sets, were reprinted (Upper Deck stuff), came in vending boxes, or would have an abundance of uncut sheets. IMO a lot of high grade cards come from these sources and I think it kind of cheapens them. I'm all about the pack pulled cards.

jeffcbay

Back in the day I think it was common for kids to keep their favorite cards inside books. I never pass up an opportunity to fan through old books. One time I was fanning through a book that was over 100 years old I found some old advertisement card that was as new as the day it was printed. I still sold it for about $20 but MAN I wish it had been a sports card!

Unfortunately it was much more common for kids to "flip" their cards, or put them in bike spokes, and store them with tight rubber bands wrapped around them, which is why those old cards are worth so much more in mint condition.

fkw

they were lost for 50+ years
ie in a book, in a box, or unopened, etc....

a card that was loved and collected as intended is NEVER Mint

alnavman

<< <i>Back in the day I think it was common for kids to keep their favorite cards inside books. I never pass up an opportunity to fan through old books. One time I was fanning through a book that was over 100 years old I found some old advertisement card that was as new as the day it was printed. I still sold it for about $20 but MAN I wish it had been a sports card!

Unfortunately it was much more common for kids to "flip" their cards, or put them in bike spokes, and store them with tight rubber bands wrapped around them, which is why those old cards are worth so much more in mint condition. >>



I had used a 1966 Hank Aaron card as a bookmark when I was a kid and found it 10-11 years ago. The bookmark had slipped into the book so you could not see it and when we put some items out for a garage sale it fell out.....didn't get it graded because the fall dinged a corner pretty bad.....from that point on I always check books the wife wants to get rid of....

al.

itzagoner

an untouched vintage gem in a vast collection is kind of like a beautiful shell which rests at the bottom of the ocean for years until one day a snorkeler or scuba diver discovers it.

it must be brought to the surface and exposed so others can witness its magnitude.

i guess the basic difference is when you show someone else your nautically acquired prize, they will casually exclaim "Ooooo. A shell. Cool."

but if you expose a gorgeous GEM MINT 10 1/1 common that you just found at the bottom of your baseball card ocean, then some eager collector will casually exclaim "Ooooo. I NEED THAT!"

handyman

They came from this old ladies box.

jeffcbay

<< <i>They came from this old ladies box. >>



I was a little apprehensive before I clicked on that link... lol

mygotta

<< <i>

<< <i>They came from this old ladies box. >>



I was a little apprehensive before I clicked on that link... lol >>



Hmm..As a "unopened pack specialist", there is very little in the way of unopened material for sale on the site.

BruceinGa

When I was 11, 1960-61, we bought cards but never put them in books. We flipped them and put them on our bikes. We did covet Mantle, Maris and a few others but they were flipped just like the commons. I am pretty sure that none of my buddies put any away or kept them nice.

jeffcbay

<< <i>Hmm..As a "unopened pack specialist", there is very little in the way of unopened material for sale on the site. >>



Who's fault is that? Answer: OURS! lol

They can't keep boxes on their shelves... even at a premium price. +

EDIT: Oops... nevermind. You were talking about the BBC Kid, not BBCE. lol

mygotta

<< <i>

<< <i>Hmm..As a "unopened pack specialist", there is very little in the way of unopened material for sale on the site. >>



Who's fault is that? Answer: OURS! lol

They can't keep boxes on their shelves... even at a premium price. +

EDIT: Oops... nevermind. You were talking about the BBC Kid, not BBCE. lol >>



lol ummm, yeah. I do wish BBCE would remove those 1980 BB wax and cello, 1984 and 1986 FB wax off the home page. They are just taunting me. I keep clicking on them!

jeffcbay

I have a BBCE routine where I open their page, click on "Baseball Unopened" and check the 70's stuff. Then I go back and click on "Go To New Items". I do this routine at least three times a day. lol

Tabe

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>They came from this old ladies box. >>



I was a little apprehensive before I clicked on that link... lol >>



Hmm..As a "unopened pack specialist", there is very little in the way of unopened material for sale on the site. >>


Didn't Murphy have some kind of fire or something that destroyed a ton of his inventory?

Tabe