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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 1, 2023 at 9:17am

Good question! Archival plastic sleeves, all acid-free, tend to provide greater clarity, strength, rigidity, don't yellow or age, and better protect against condensation. Mylar is the best IMO. 

None of the sleeves that I'm aware of provide much protection against fading from light.

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Permalink Reply by DP on October 1, 2023 at 10:45am

Thanks Steve. Can you still use ones that only say acid free? 

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Permalink Reply by DP on October 1, 2023 at 10:46am

Also should you always keep the COAs separate from the actual item or can you put them in the same sheet protector. Does it make a difference on the material that is autographed such as photo vs a handwritten or typed letter or document. 

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on October 1, 2023 at 10:51am

The item you are protecting may have sulfur (some older album pages, newsprint, etc), or whatever in it. But that is the nature of the item. To add the COA is to add another potential source of things you don't want.

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Permalink Reply by DP on October 1, 2023 at 10:58am

What about modern photos and to just put the COA behind it. So say one photo with the back meeting the back of the other photo and then putting the receipts and 2 COAs behind them?

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on October 1, 2023 at 11:01am

You are putting the signed item in the protector to protect it. Adding in papers of unknown composition is self defeating.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 1, 2023 at 11:12am

I'd keep COAs separate. They are usually thick paper or cardstock with edges that may leave an impression on the photo or document, and as Eric said, the material it's made from may be reactive.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 1, 2023 at 11:03am

Probably, but I wouldn't for more than a short while. You can often buy quality page-size mylar ones at 40-90 cents each in packs of 50+ so go for it.

Good question about the COAs. I'd keep them separate.

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Permalink Reply by DP on October 1, 2023 at 11:09am

So if I understand correctly the best is to put the 2 COAs in another one in a separate sheet protector. 

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 1, 2023 at 11:20am

I would if you wanted to keep the COAs with the collectible. A lot of collectors store the COAs separately and simply put a small label on the front or back of the sheet protector with the info, COA#, etc. 

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