Insurance is very problematic with card collections as they need to be very well documented and photographed etc and your home and contents insurer will raise ur premiums accordingly and in todays market that’s super expensive. I have a friend whose collection is probably valued, we all value different as well same as everybody’s mint condition cards vary dramatically lol. Anyway their collection would be easy half a million no kidding, and his insurer gave premium quote that was just too crazy to do. Rang mate and asked him about his insurance attempt and he said back when he did they wanted to charge him 30% of total card collection to value it, he said when he did this was roughly 300k so they wanted $30k to value it, and then wanted 10% of valued collection as yearly fee to insure so again that would have been another $30k per year just crazy for everyday people like us. Plus I’m sure we are all the same my collection to me is priceless and I have no intention to sell, will enjoy them till the end. Damn I hope that’s a long time haha.
also to protect your collection especially if there in folders/sleeves etc the heat from fire would/will melt the plastic into/onto the cards making them useless unless you had some super duper heat/fire resistant safe which again becomes cost prohibitive As most of us have more then just a folder or 2 so size n cost again crazy. Also be safe in regards to silverfish getting into ur collection especially if you store in lots of cardboard storage boxes and also cardboard draws in any moisture in the air, best way is in hard plastic card cases which I personally favour. I also put some moth balls/camophere protection placed in and around my collection. The camophere is a softer smell compared to moth balls which has a strong smell. Also if you have had your collection a long time check your old sleeves as some where not of great quality and any exposure to over hot conditions you may find cards have stuck to the sleeves and removing them from these sleeves you may find they have stuck and will be hard if not impossible to remove without damaging some cards which can even if it only damages one or couple cards in set can then be hard to find and replace that card.
always when/if possible stand your folders up not lying down on top of each other as undue weight can also create the same environment for cards to stick. Don’t overload folders with too many sleeves also try n use smaller sized folders holding less sleeves.
be careful with dust getting into the top of folders and working into sleeves with the cards, my mate places cardboard on top of folders to stop this, but if you have nice glass door cabinets there a lot safer from dust but still be wary. Our collections have consumed a lot of hours/days/weeks/years and lifetimes to compile so do all you can to safeguard them and the memories they give you. Elastic bands on cards are a Nono also, they indent cards and if left for years will dry out n stick to cards and damage them believe it or not but furry hair bands work better lol. But again card cases are the best, see thru, strong fairly water resistant, stackable etc they are the best option also place a band or something around case as I have learnt nothing worse then picking up and bottom slides out and ur picking up cards lol.
plus im sure it’s not the case, but at moment my missus thinks my collection is just crap cardboard n happy for her to continue that thinking if we ever split up, lol. I already have my collection in my will in its entirety for my son with a detailed spreadsheet (working on all the time) on what each folder/set, spares etc, etc and what I valued them at again we are all different with values etc. I don’t want my brother getting his grubby hands on my cards, being an only child my son there All his, plus have told my son if his uncle turns up to lock the study door lol.
In some of the responses I don’t think I would feel comfortable giving my entire card collection in whole or part to anyone plus the logistics involved in this would be crazy but we are all different. Plus eBay isn’t really a truely overall reliable guide for card prices as everybody seems to think there cards are mint which you can see there not and the prices they want are just unrealistic but you will always get someone to buy them and this just makes the card market overinflated. Covid was probably one of the worst things to happen as lots of part time collectors got into the market and now think they all own that million dollar card or set lol. Where as true collectors know there is only two important factors, card condition/reasonable price. I couldn’t imagine scanning every card I own even if I did it by sleeves etc it would drives me crazy but sounds great idea.
have probably got a bit off course but maintaining our collections affects the original question you asked.
if anybody has some smart card storage etc ideas/tips please share please.
hope some of my thoughts etc help it’s a very tricky but very self rewarding game this card collection caper.
