Hostess Boxes
 

I'm curious - If there's a Hostess Box that's fully intact (like the 1st 2pictures ), is better to keep the boxes that way or can the boxes be laid flat (like picture 3)without hindering the value?

Obviously laying them flat is easier to store.

While it is completely up to you, keeping them assembled makes them difficult to store or ship. I have not noticed any value premium for intact boxes over flattened boxes.

Truthfully I don't really see a premium for complete boxes over well cut panels. Ones that include the Sporting News offer will usually sell higher since they have the potential for grading.

(Non-expert opinion here) It seems to me it would all depend on the adhesive involved. Since it started out as a flat piece that was 'inflated' to become a box, it should return to its original form without any damage or decrease in value. But if sections are glued together, that adds a whole different element to it, because you would in effect be 'ruining' it by separating those parts. Certainly something to think about.

Most have a bit of glue, but it usually comes apart easily.

Some have simple tuck in flaps.

Over the years I've tried to keep some of my food issue boxes as intact boxes, but I think most people would prefer them flat.

What I've seen done with the boxes packs of other cards came in is using a block of styrofoam or similar cut to just fit in the box. Then it's put in plastic like a comic book bag.
That may be difficult with Hostess, since many had a tear open flap that wasn't the entire box top. So fitting a support in would be trickier.

I've done this before, cut the Styrofoam in 1/3s and put each piece in and slide to each end, then slide the middle piece in.

Thanks guys. I like the idea of having a couple on display. I've picked up 10 boxes (all intact). I'll need to disassemble the rest for storage. I think my next search is going to be for large toploaders.

I use magazine size bags and backing boards, like for comic books but bigger.
They're much cheaper than toploaders.

I picked a box from each year + an extra and decided to do some Wall Art with Walmarthttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2990964148.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...fe12644ab3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...c4e41f399d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7699501224.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cdcebd6611.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...dac0b3791d.jpg

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Very nice! :)

I love that. Great idea. Thanks for sharing.

I am a whole box collector for 1971 Milk Duds. It is the same issue. You can flatten a Milk Dud box and keep the glued seems intact - and this may not be the case with Hostess boxes. Milk Dud collectors generally prefer to keep the boxes flat so they can be graded and fit in a grading case.

Z