Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on December 27, 2014 at 9:43am

No they will not.  I have worked in a collectibles store for over 10 years, and we had offered Ultra Pro UV cubes for the past 5 years or so. Our signed baseballs have been displayed in the shop which unfortunately has fluorescent tube lighting, and our baseballs are in these "UV" cubes. The signed ball needs to be removed from display after a month or so, if it is not the signature will indeed disappear.

The same can be said for every piece of UV museum glass and UV plexi in all of our framing.

Save yourself a fortune ....and do not display your items in a bright room or anywhere near sunlight.   

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Permalink Reply by Ian Baldock on December 27, 2014 at 10:04am

My best stuff I like to display I keep in a dark hallway and rotate it. Light destroys signatures. I always walk into shops and cringe when I see good stuff in front windows. Inevitably it goes on sale cheap with faded signatures, the damage done.

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Permalink Reply by James on December 27, 2014 at 11:19am

Thanks. I think I may just "display" my Ruth ball in a dark box. Generally, when I want to "see" it, I may just view my iPad photos of it. I don't want any regrets.

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Permalink Reply by James on December 27, 2014 at 10:27am

Oh, wow. Thanks for the info and advice. What about older autographs on baseballs? I acquired a Babe Ruth (PSA/DNA) signed baseball a few months ago. I have it in a UV BallQube. It is about 70-75 years old, and pretty bold for its age. Obviously, the ink has been dried for decades. Would the sunlight and room light likewise cause an old signature to fade?

I have a disability, and therefore very limited mobility. So unfortunately, I sit a lot. On most days, after I make my way to the kitchen where I sit for hours, I bring my Ruth baseball with me to view as I try to accomplish things online. There is quite a bit of sunlight that makes its way through, but the lights are not fluorescent. The signature is still pretty bold; however, after having the ball a few months, I have been starting to think it may have faded just a slight amount. Now, this could all be in my head. I would like to hope so.

But because very old fountain ink has dried from years ago, is it less likely to fade now?

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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on December 27, 2014 at 11:00am

The age of the ink does not matter, sunlight or any light will fade the signatures.

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Permalink Reply by James on December 27, 2014 at 11:10am

Thanks. I will now plan for a better way to protect my investment.

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on December 27, 2014 at 1:46pm

NO!

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Permalink Reply by James on December 27, 2014 at 4:15pm

Thanks, Terrier. I am convinced, and my Babe Ruth ball and Mickey Mantle ball will be going into a nice dark place.

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Permalink Reply by Mike White on January 4, 2015 at 2:17am

I've had no issues with mine--they've been on my shelf for over 4 years now and they look as bold as they did when I got them.

Some I've had for 10+ years with minimal signs of fading. (And those were cheaper balls, too.)

I forget what cubes I use, but they were fairly expensive ($5-$10 each) and came with a COA and guarantee.

But you never want to keep in autograph in a place with constant direct light--no matter what protection it has.

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