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Some collectors like putting their cards out in the open, on display, for all to see. That’s fine for situations where the display is temporary i.e., convention showcases, but displaying over the long term is a big no no. Here’s why:
Dyes contain color bodies called chromophores, which are the molecular parts responsible for color. Colors are produced by a combination of chemical bonds and light absorption. Ultraviolet rays cause colors to fade because they break down these chemical bonds in a process called photodegradation.1
When you put your cards in the open to be exposed to light from any source, quality degradation happens as a guaranteed side effect. This is especially the case with sun light. There’s a reason why the row of VHSs that faced the window in Blockbuster Video was always sun bleached.
In the color spectrum, sunlight is white. If an item exposed to the sun is unable to absorb natural sunlight, or a particular wavelength, the colors of said item will slowly fade into the same color as the sun, white.2 The above example of the 1986 Fleer Update Barry Bonds features this progression. It was well on its way to being bleached completely white.
Don’t put your cards in the open. Keep them locked up behind closed doors and in the dark. And for those who want to go the extra mile, keep them in a temperature controlled environment away from the elements and out of harms way. Nobody’s going to appreciate your collection more than you and you’ve seen it so no need to put it on display.
To see what’s currently on eBay from 1986 Fleer Update, click here.
References:
- Why does ultraviolet light cause color to fade? www.loc.gov ↩︎
- What is Sun Bleaching and How to Use It to Your Advantage. uvhero.com ↩︎
