Slight taping of old cardboard display pieces, Large Drum box?

[Leon]

Hey guys,
Just a quick question per some items I have on display. I fully understand, as I have read the board a few times now , that most taping of display pieces is a no-no. That being said I have a few old, tattered, cardboard items that I feel would be much better to be reinforced with some archival scotch tape I have. One is a Coupon Cigarettes carton and the other is this ebay item, a very large Drum Carton, pictured below in auction. There were no bids for a few days, so I asked the seller if there was a price they would take for it, they gave one and I bought it. It has some dangling and torn pieces. Should I ever so carefully use the archival, clear tape to help? I can't imagine it (them) losing value because of it, but I want other thoughts before I do it. I will put the tape on places it won't show, as much as possible. Thanks for any thoughts on the subject.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=330610347292

[sayhey24]

Leon,

If a little tape makes the item display better, and makes you feel better about the way it looks, I say go right ahead. If the items are already tattered, I don't think you can do much to hurt their value.
I love the fact that you display companion items to go with your cards, and I have recently done the same.

Greg
http://www.baseballbasement.com

[Tigerden]

Leon- IMO- The box you bought on ebay looks pretty good to me. Maybe you could try those acid free glue dots, this may help keep a box top down or the side of the box from protruding. IMO- I don't see a problem taping the box if you don't go crazy with it. I would probaby look at each box differently based on value and condition and determine when and where to apply the tape. Either way go with your gut.

[Leon]

Thanks guys. Any other comments are welcome too. I guess we always have to at least keep in mind the day when we might sell, so that is sort of the premise behind the questioning. If I were to buy one of these I don't think I would mind some reinforced tears, especially with small pieces of archival tape.

[perezfan]

The little glue dots would be far superior to taping, IMO. But the Box really doesn't look that bad to me. I would leave it as-is, but if you feel compelled to alter it, go with the glue (as it is far less conspicuous than the tape). Future re-sale would be better as well....

[docpatlv]

Leon,

As others have said, I would probably leave it alone as well, unless one of the flaps was about to come off. It displays nicely and is a cool box. I had a very similar situation where a dealer had a BIN for a tobacco box but didn't sell, so I put in an offer and it was accepted.