sdpdesign
Registered Trader ,
I have been collecting for 20 years.
I have found a few things that worked well over ten years ago no longer apply basically because of the variety of the cards. Over ten years ago you had base, RC, inserts, parallels, autos, and memorabilia. Now you have all of those...combined!
There are regular base RC's, inserted short print base unnumbered RC's, numbered RC's, auto RC's, mem RC's, mem/auto RC's, (both unnumbered and numbered) & parallels of each.
It used to be easy for me, boxes of base, box of special cards (PC), binders for player collections and inserts. Now, I stopped doing binders, base are in boxes, inserts are in their own boxes, RC's, auto, & mem are all in their own boxes. My PC has expanded to include short prints (25 or less), valued RC's, patchy goodness, high $ cards, and a few other sentimental cards (great personal pulls).
I have over 50 boxes spread between A4 (about the size of 1600 ct before I got 1600 ct boxes), 800ct, & 1600 ct boxes. I had no organizing method other than packing them by set and year but as time went by and the collection grew, it became harder to remember where everything is. This was especially frustrating since I was also buying older packs from a few years back and trying to find their set (it was a pain). I have recently numbered or lettered each box that I have, depending on the type (800 by #, 1600 by letter). I have taken a rough inspection of the contents of each and created a data base. It isn't perfect but is has started to help me know where certain sets are for reorganization. I highly encourage record keeping of your cards either through digital photos or documenting locations. Keep some sort of system and remember to use it.
Word of advice: I do not have a great display like some of these members have. Most of my collection has been forced into a closet in boxes which my wife deems as excessive and wasting space (eventhough it takes less space than a quarter of her collections' space). If you do end up displaying, keep out of direct sunlight as this will eventually degrade the cards. Fading will start, decreasing image quality of the cards and can totally "erase" an autograph in a few years. There are films that can be placed in windows and displays that can reduce these damaging effects, and for a few $$ can keep great cards looking great for years.
Good luck with whatever method you choose. Each has a different style of collecting since this hobby is so diverse. You may have to just create one for yourself.
I have found a few things that worked well over ten years ago no longer apply basically because of the variety of the cards. Over ten years ago you had base, RC, inserts, parallels, autos, and memorabilia. Now you have all of those...combined!
There are regular base RC's, inserted short print base unnumbered RC's, numbered RC's, auto RC's, mem RC's, mem/auto RC's, (both unnumbered and numbered) & parallels of each.
It used to be easy for me, boxes of base, box of special cards (PC), binders for player collections and inserts. Now, I stopped doing binders, base are in boxes, inserts are in their own boxes, RC's, auto, & mem are all in their own boxes. My PC has expanded to include short prints (25 or less), valued RC's, patchy goodness, high $ cards, and a few other sentimental cards (great personal pulls).
I have over 50 boxes spread between A4 (about the size of 1600 ct before I got 1600 ct boxes), 800ct, & 1600 ct boxes. I had no organizing method other than packing them by set and year but as time went by and the collection grew, it became harder to remember where everything is. This was especially frustrating since I was also buying older packs from a few years back and trying to find their set (it was a pain). I have recently numbered or lettered each box that I have, depending on the type (800 by #, 1600 by letter). I have taken a rough inspection of the contents of each and created a data base. It isn't perfect but is has started to help me know where certain sets are for reorganization. I highly encourage record keeping of your cards either through digital photos or documenting locations. Keep some sort of system and remember to use it.
Word of advice: I do not have a great display like some of these members have. Most of my collection has been forced into a closet in boxes which my wife deems as excessive and wasting space (eventhough it takes less space than a quarter of her collections' space). If you do end up displaying, keep out of direct sunlight as this will eventually degrade the cards. Fading will start, decreasing image quality of the cards and can totally "erase" an autograph in a few years. There are films that can be placed in windows and displays that can reduce these damaging effects, and for a few $$ can keep great cards looking great for years.
Good luck with whatever method you choose. Each has a different style of collecting since this hobby is so diverse. You may have to just create one for yourself.
