Toploaders turning yellow
 

I am pretty much a set builder/binder guy, but I do collect Reggie Jackson cards. Most of his 70’s cards I own are graded, but I still need some of the 80’s Tiffany’s, stickers, etc. and I just can’t see paying for graded cards that I can buy for a dollar or so. As a result, I am looking at putting these cards in toploaders. I have noticed some of my old toploaders are yellowed (I think most of these were with cards I have purchased through the years). Is this a problem with more recent toploaders or am I safe to assume these were cheap toploaders (not BCW or Ultra Pro).


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Ed, I haven't had that problem with any of the newer Ultra Pro top loaders I have purchased. I have seen yellowing occasionally with some older ones.

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It's hard to say. I have some that are yellowed, and some that are just as old that aren't. The new ones are probably better, but it may take a few years to find out.

I usually use a penny sleeve as well as the toploader. It helps avoid problems. And unless the collection gets really large replacing toploaders after a few years isn't all that expensive.

You sound just like me, just sub in Brooks Robinson for Reggie Jackson. :) And I also have come across some of the old yellow ones in my single card boxes. I find them to be sort of brittle as well when they get that yellow tint to them. With toploaders so cheap I just replace them as I come across them. And when I get cards sent to me I usually save the toploaders but the yellowed one go into the recycling box under my desk.

I bet many of us remember the uproar over the PVC-laden pages. I still come across them in some of my binders. They ruined some of my Dexter Press Orioles photos.

All my top loaders from 30 years ago are yellow. None that I bought in the last 5 years are. (And I didn't buy any in the 25 intervening years.)

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I have some as well and replace them .
I don't throw the yellowed ones out though.
.
Here's a picture of me circa 1954 taken with
an old Kodak (I guess) showing my support for the
2nd amendment .
https://i.imgur.com/luk5phU.jpg
and here's the same photo inside one of the questionable
top loaders ....
https://i.imgur.com/SFbxFQ1.jpg
.
Just a thought ,
Ken

The big question, which hasn't been addressed here, is: does the yellowing pose a risk to the cards?

yellow
 

way back in the early days of sheets..used to be that big thing with PVA or PVC.. in the plastic ??

I've purchased cards in piss-yellow top loaders that have been perfectly fine. Only damage I've ever seen from a yellowed holder is when it stuck to a card with UV coating.

Pretty much the same here. No damage that I've seen.

The worst combination for me was mylar sleeves in toploaders. The card simply would not come out. I had to cut the holder out from around it. No damage, but not something I'd enjoy repeating.