Storing and Displaying Your Collection

[WKalush]

I've also used old microfilm cabinets with vertical drawers. I put mine on a movers dolly so that it doesn't stay in the way.

bk

[Don Boyer]

Bill, you have all the neatest toys! 

Microfilm cabinet?  Where does someone find one of those anymore - was the NSA having a joint garage sale with the CIA?

[WKalush]

Bill, you have all the neatest toys! 

Microfilm cabinet?  Where does someone find one of those anymore - was the NSA having a joint garage sale with the CIA?

I happened on to that 20 years ago at an auction when Upsala College closed in Orange New Jersey. It had 40 years of the New York Times on microfilm in it! The microfilm is long gone! And just old decks of cards are in it now!

[Don Boyer]

Bill, you have all the neatest toys! 

Microfilm cabinet?  Where does someone find one of those anymore - was the NSA having a joint garage sale with the CIA?

I happened on to that 20 years ago at an auction when Upsala College closed in Orange New Jersey. It had 40 years of the New York Times on microfilm in it! The microfilm is long gone! And just old decks of cards are in it now!

That's awesome!

[HandSkillz]

Bill, what is your ballpark estimate for how many decks you have all together? 

[Don Boyer]

Bill, what is your ballpark estimate for how many decks you have all together?

Now THAT'S a dangerous question... 

[WKalush]

Bill, what is your ballpark estimate for how many decks you have all together?

I'm afraid I don't know. Too many is the only accurate answer. If you count the decks I've saved from my production as well as the decks I've collected (en masse sometimes). I might have 25k. It sounds insane...

[HandSkillz]

Bill, what is your ballpark estimate for how many decks you have all together?

I'm afraid I don't know. Too many is the only accurate answer. If you count the decks I've saved from my production as well as the decks I've collected (en masse sometimes). I might have 25k. It sounds insane...

If you ever need help cataloguing you could round up a group from the forum and we could have a get together haha.

[Knobz1]

Bill, what is your ballpark estimate for how many decks you have all together?

I'm afraid I don't know. Too many is the only accurate answer. If you count the decks I've saved from my production as well as the decks I've collected (en masse sometimes). I might have 25k. It sounds insane...

If you ever need help cataloguing you could round up a group from the forum and we could have a get together haha.

I'll bring the beer.

[WKalush]

If you ever need help cataloguing you could round up a group from the forum and we could have a get together haha.

We actually catalogued it about 9 years ago but it's totally out of hand again!

[Don Boyer]

If you ever need help cataloguing you could round up a group from the forum and we could have a get together haha.

We actually catalogued it about 9 years ago but it's totally out of hand again!

I'd be interested in seeing how you cataloged the entire collection.  It's giving me ideas...

[jwats01]

Bill, you have all the neatest toys! 

Microfilm cabinet?  Where does someone find one of those anymore - was the NSA having a joint garage sale with the CIA?

I happened on to that 20 years ago at an auction when Upsala College closed in Orange New Jersey. It had 40 years of the New York Times on microfilm in it! The microfilm is long gone! And just old decks of cards are in it now!

That is very cool! You do have some very awesome storage.

And 25K decks?!?!  Wow! I can't even imagine how much space that must take up. LOL I'm laughing at myself and how I'm struggling to find spots for my 400+ decks.

[52plusjoker]

Here is a Plexiglas case that has been discussed in other posts that we really like for display.

[jwats01]

I like that.

Tom, what's that deck in the 2nd row from the bottom in the middle which looks like a Welsh or Airedale Terrier?
Thanks,
James

[Don Boyer]

I'm laughing at myself and how I'm struggling to find spots for my 400+ decks.

That's easy enough if your collection is that small.  Sports cards collectors have this thing called a "monster box" - a white cardboard box separated into five columns with a total storage capacity of 5,000 trading cards.  That same box will hold 125 standard-sized decks (poker/wide or bridge/narrow) easily.  Four such boxes would fit the whole collection with some room to grow.

[jwats01]

Don,

Thanks for the suggestion. That's actually exactly what I'm using. I have 5 of those boxes now (well, 3 of the 4 row, and 2 of the 5 row - they somehow seem to fill up fast!), and I meant I have so many other "collections" I can't find space for my cards in my office. I need to downsize some of my other stuff. LOL.

[52plusjoker]

I like that.

Tom, what's that deck in the 2nd row from the bottom in the middle which looks like a Welsh or Airedale Terrier?
Thanks,
James

It's a wide Congress from about 1910 named Airedale. They had five or six different dog backs including Collie and English Setter pictured, Bulldog etc.

[52plusjoker]

Don,

Thanks for the suggestion. That's actually exactly what I'm using. I have 5 of those boxes now (well, 3 of the 4 row, and 2 of the 5 row - they somehow seem to fill up fast!), and I meant I have so many other "collections" I can't find space for my cards in my office. I need to downsize some of my other stuff. LOL.

That's what we want to hear!  More cards and less extraneous matter!

[Anthony]

So I finally got around to finishing a few of my Hobby Lobby frames, not sure what direction I want to go as the collection grows, but happy with having what I have on display.

This is my little corner of the house, any of you who are married, have children or in a serious relationship know what I mean, lol

[52plusjoker]

Keep them out of the direct sunlight!

I'm envious unless you tidied up for the pix. My comparable space, no longer likely to be trashed by children and grandchildren [as I have a lock on the door!] is still a constant mass of cards, paper, ephemera, etc. etc.

[Anthony]

Keep them out of the direct sunlight!

I'm envious unless you tidied up for the pix. My comparable space, no longer likely to be trashed by children and grandchildren [as I have a lock on the door!] is still a constant mass of cards, paper, ephemera, etc. etc.

No, no, I didn't tidy up......but you can't see inside the cabinets or under the desk 

[ecNate]

Thanks for this, I really like this idea.  I was planning to simply use some small dual set wooden boxes with glass covers to store and display, but still be ready for use.  Although, as my small (under 20 collection) gets larger I am moving into more art worthy cards and those that I may just want to display instead of use.  Still, I don't plan to keep any sealed in the box as I want to fully enjoy them (and don't plan to buy duplicates).  So I was thinking of using this shadow box idea with a hinged glass front and a simple lock (kids), but have the deck and also the court (not sure about Ace) and backs displayed.  Somewhat like this photo.  I would imagine this solution would also work great for that, but likely would need a small ridge added at the front of each shelf or something in front of the loose cars.  I'm thinking maybe just a small shallow rip on the table saw to slightly set the card in maybe.

Problem would be that with this frame that would limit me to just 4-5 decks per box and my chosen space is really limited to maybe 2-3 boxes of this size.

[Josh Blackmon]

I keep my marked card collection in an old repurposed library card catalog. This one is upright (and uncommon). It makes me happy just to look at it!

I have seen archival bags before, but what specific ones are you using here? They look ideal to the purpose.

[Don Boyer]

I understand the desire to show off more than just the packaging, especially with the more artistic of the custom decks.  There may be a simple solution.

Have you considered one of those digital picture frames?  You know the type - they can be set to cycle through a library of prints that you load as image files into the device's memory.  You can snap photos of the cards you like from a particular deck along with the tuck box itself, leaving you with a rotating display of your favorites, then use the shadow boxes just for holding decks.

What do you think?

[ecNate]

So I finally got around to finishing a few of my Hobby Lobby frames, not sure what direction I want to go as the collection grows, but happy with having what I have on display.

This is my little corner of the house, any of you who are married, have children or in a serious relationship know what I mean, lol

What Hobby Lobby frames did you use?  Wondering if they are front loading shadow boxes.  I looked at Michaels near me and all they had was a few smaller ones.  Hobby Lobby is a bit out of the way, but maybe it's worth it?

Thanks!