Stories from the collector’s desk.
A place for the history, questions and choices behind trading cards.
KEEP EXPLORING
Choose your next stop.
From the archive
When a 1999 booster box made headlines.
The attention around an early Pokémon box, and the questions a collector can take from it.
Read more
Collecting ethics
Pack weighing, and the question of trust.
What should a seller disclose when the uncertainty of a sealed pack is part of its appeal?
Read more
At the collector’s desk
The note you will be glad you kept.
A few lines can preserve the part of a collection a catalogue cannot describe.
Read moreFROM THE JOURNALMore on this topic.
Collection Care
How to Spot Pest Activity in Card Storage and Respond Safely
Possible pest activity may leave holes, grazed surfaces, frass, remains, chew marks, droppings, damaged packaging, or unusual odors. Inspect cards and the wider storage area, record the evidence,…
Read more ↗
Collection Care
Should Graded Cards Be Stored Upright or Flat?
Graded cards can be stored upright or flat when their slabs are level, supported, and unable to shift or strike one another. Stable environmental conditions and protection from…
Read more ↗
Collection Care
How Acidic Storage Materials Can Affect Trading Cards and How to Identify Them
Acidic paper-based storage can transfer acids to nearby paper objects over time, while unsuitable flexible PVC products may release plasticisers. Learn what warning signs to watch for, how…
Read more ↗
Collection Care
How to Protect Trading Cards from Temperature Fluctuations in Storage
Keep trading cards in a stable, conditioned indoor location away from sunlight and heat sources. Use layered protection and inspect cards regularly for curvature, rippling, adhesion, and warped…
Read more ↗
Collection Care
How to Protect a Trading Card Collection from Leaks, Floods and Damp at Home
Reduce water risks around a trading card collection by inspecting likely entry routes, addressing roof and drainage problems, improving leak detection and preparing a limited response for indoor…
Read more ↗
Grading
What an “Authentic” Label Without a Numerical Grade Means for Collectors
An “Authentic” label confirms that a card is genuine without assigning a numerical condition grade. Learn why a number may be absent, how “Authentic Altered” differs, and what…
Read more ↗