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I have been collecting Star Wars autographs since 1998.  Not all of my signatures are on Star Wars memorabilia.  For example, when I met Warwick Davis at a comic convention in New York City, I had him sign a Willow photograph.  I also have publicity photos of Sir Alec Guinness and Christopher Lee from the 1970s, and a Natalie Portman signed The Diary of Anne Frank theater poster from her performance on Broadway back in 1998.  My current wish list includes Peter Cushing, Terence Stamp and John Williams.  I am interested in knowing about the collections and wish lists of other members.

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Top loaders are especially harmful because they are made of PVC, which is a very oily form of plastic. The oils interact with the ink and surface of the photo over time causing damage to both.

I don't know what PSA slabs are made of, but it does not appear to be PVC. I would assume it is a more stable and archival material.

In 30+ years of autograph collecting, I have never had anything encapsulated. I can't speak to what they do, but if the signature is in paint pen, and the holder does not keep the item from shifting......I'd say crack it out of the holder.

I just noticed that my post was half eaten. Here I go again...

PSA uses a sleeve-like sheet in between the slab and the graph. I'm guessing it's polypropylene and archive safe. 

What about JSA/Beckett?

I agree JXE.  Ultra PRO Platinum Hologram Pages are the way to go.

Believe it or not I actually prefer the Avery secure top sheet protectors because I like the little flap that goes over the top and around to the back of it. That way, there's no fear of liquids finding their way in through the top.

I understand the feeling of safety with a flap over the top of the page, but as a long time comic collector who lives in the northeast....I can tell you that the sealed bag/page is not a good thing if there is any change in humidity levels in your area. 

I have seen some great items damaged beyond repair because of comics or signed items sweating and having moisture collect at the top of the sealed bags/pages....and then drip down onto the paper contents of the bag as humidity levels change.

The item in the bag/page itself causes water to collect at the top of the bag and then as it drips back down onto the item it actually causes water damage to itself.

Sounds crazy, but it does happen.

Wow! How do you store your comics? How does the moisture get in there to begin with... just the humid air around the items? I live about 40 minutes from you so that's good to know. I run the ac in the room with my autos constantly in the summer so it's never crazy humid in my house... but it's definitely more humid than the winter.

I worked in comic shops from the time I was 13 thru my early 20's and saw a lot of this. The majority of the problems occur when the comics are stored in attics and basements, the areas of homes where the humidity level is not usually controlled.

The paper stock of old comics and books, even some old photos actually sweat, moisture is sucked out of the paper itself in high heat and high humidity situations.....when those types of items are sealed in air tight plastic bags/sleeves, the water as it evaporates out of the paper collects in the tops of the bags. Once it is in the tops of tha bag , it drips down back onto the paper which does not absorb it the same way it leaves the paper....

You will note that most Mylar heavy duty protection products dont seal, in fact they all used to have open tops.

I sold off most of my comics of value....and the stuff I have now is usually not bagged at all.....I know I'm a "bloody savage."

Paint pens are notorious for leaving a raised layer of paint on the surface of the photo, far more than sharpies or ballpoint which tends to leave an indentation in the photo.

If you place a photo signed in paint pen into a loose fitting top loader, the photo when carried or moved around tends to slide ...back and forth or up and down in the toploader. This will rub the highest point on the surface of the photo. In this case the highest point would be the signature.

While this one is a bit smudgy, I have seen entire signatures stick to the inside of the toploader and disappear from the photo entirely.

There are occassions when there is no other way to store an autograph safely, but I do not recommend ever storing signed photos in toploaders for any extended period of time. If you are mailing an item.....the toploader is a great device for protection thru the mail....but that is it, and the photo should be removed immediately upon receipt.   

Interesting. Can the autograph ever set in enough to where the top loader doesn't effect the signature?

I would say no, if we are talking about paint signatures.

Sharpie or ballpoint signatures are not as bad....but I have seen sharpie signatures worn by toploads too.

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