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Hoodoo Housewife
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Posted: Thu Jan 14th, 2010 04:24 pm |
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Hello all, this is my first post and I’m hoping it is in the right place.
I’ve got a couple of deck/book sets that although I didn’t pay a high price for them – I am seeing them on eBay and Amazon for what I’d consider high prices. Maybe it is silly but this has made me nervous when I’m using the cards or reading the books. Every time I see the crease near the spine of my Bohemian Gothic book a voice screams in my head “That is a $100 book!!!” Now I’m afraid to open it.
I have no intention of selling or anything – that’s not why I bought them. But I’d hate, if something happened to me, for my family to not be able to get what they could for them because I’m rough on my cards/books and didn’t store them properly.
I do gentle shuffling with these decks (unlike with my others!), but I’ve never wrapped decks in silk or even bought tarot bags for them. Sometimes I knit tarot bags, but I use inexpensive acrylic yarns. Is this bad for long-term storage?
Are wooden boxes the best type of storage? What about the books, is keeping them on my bookshelf good enough? Or do I need to wrap them up somehow also?
Given that some decks can go for over a thousand, my attitude seems a little out of proportion, but it freaks me out anyway. I fussed at my husband this morning for coming near me with a cup of coffee!
Maybe I just need to lighten up and stop checking eBay. 
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nicole
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Posted: Fri Jan 15th, 2010 02:22 am |
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I am no expert but my decks and books are just fine on the shelf or in the box.
Welcome to the forum :)
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AdamMcLean
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Posted: Fri Jan 15th, 2010 11:23 am |
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Second hand tarot decks are rarely found in mint condition. Most people seem to use their cards for divination and the consequent shuffling and abrasion does show. The high priced art decks are not so often used in this way so one often finds copies of these in very fine or mint condition.
The fact that people use their decks of tarot cards for divination means that many of these get damaged and cards also get lost, so copies get removed from the number of available decks out there. This continuing loss of copies makes tarot cards very collectable as after only a few years there are few copies of a deck available to buy, even with the open access to buying and selling through the Internet.
Those who collect decks for their artwork will probably make sure they are stored safely, in the correct humidity and not exposed to direct sunlight.
Those who buy them to use, will find they do damage and abrade them a little, but this is normal for used decks. It should not substantially reduce their price.
Will anyone have a mint copy of the early Rider-Waite deck ! Most of these have been well used through the last 100 years.
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Sebille
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Posted: Fri Jan 15th, 2010 03:27 pm |
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I remember a discussion on the TarotL mail list some time back, which was about how to store decks safely. Someone on the list was involved in archiving at a library, I think (I can't find the thread in the files) and it was mentioned that silk is not good for long term storage as it can attract bugs. Cotton bags were thought to be a better choice. I can't recall what was said (if anything) about synthetics. The few decks that I have that are OOP I don't really use much just because I'm too worried that I'll damage the cards. Mostly I use them like fine china: on special occasions ;)
I know the little boxes they typically come in get trashed pretty easily, I've destroyed more than one just by hauling a deck around with me. I'd like to get small wooden boxes to store them all in, but I've also considered making my own dense cardboard boxes, and putting some kind of nice paper on them, the way the Soprafino deck was packaged.
As far as the books, I keep all my books in bookshelves, and I admit I'm pretty neurotic about keeping books in mint condition. And that's any book, not just my Tarot books.
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AdamMcLean
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Posted: Fri Jan 15th, 2010 03:39 pm |
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Sebille wrote: I'd like to get small wooden boxes to store them all in, but I've also considered making my own dense cardboard boxes,
Some years ago I managed to buy a batch of 100 rather nice solid transparent plastic boxes which many tarot decks will fit inside. This has the advantage that one can see immediately what is in the box.
There are, however, always items which are just a few millimetres too large for these 
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debra
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Posted: Fri Jan 15th, 2010 04:22 pm |
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These people make really nice boxes, sized to fit: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Lavengro
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gregory
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Posted: Fri Jan 15th, 2010 10:50 pm |
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There are good plastic boxes (intended for index cards,but they do very nicely !) for sale at Walgreens, and plain wooden ones at dollar stores..... I have several of both
I have loads of decks and even a few books that could fetch huge sums on ebay. But I LIKE them; I have them because I like them, and I shall use them and read them when I feel like it ! What's the point, otherwise ?
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Abrac
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Posted: Sat Jan 16th, 2010 05:24 am |
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Reading a book shouldn't diminish value very much unless pages start coming loose. Marking or highlighting will hurt their value. The only other thing I can add is never store a paperback under a stack of heavier books; it can cause the spine to permanently bend. Upright and straight on a shelf or in the original box should be fine.
Edit: Keeping books and cards away from tobacco smoke is also a good idea. A lot of people are sensitive to the odor and that could eliminate a percentage of the market right there. And smoke residue is nearly impossible to get off a book once it's there.
Last edited on Sat Jan 16th, 2010 08:38 pm by Abrac
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Hoodoo Housewife
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Posted: Sat Jan 16th, 2010 03:04 pm |
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Thank you all so much – this is what I need to hear. I’m going to get a couple of those beautiful boxes on esty (great price!) and just enjoy my cards. That is the whole reason I bought them.
This does seem like a really good excuse to save my pennies and buy a limited edition of something and save that for my kids. Of course, I will have to remove the shrink-wrap and ogle the deck every now and then - but I won’t use it.
I’m thinking maybe that Alice deck from MPR if it ever comes out…or maybe something new from Patrick Valenza…or if Mary-el ever gets published. (I might have to start saving more than pennies!!)
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missy
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Posted: Sun Jan 17th, 2010 11:36 pm |
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I live in a humid, hot area with lots of sunlight.
Here, I can't leave my valuable books or tarot cards on a regular shelf, as typically they will get exposed to daylight and over time the sun will yellow them. A darkened room is best, if you have one.
My solution is to store them in wooden cabinets or drawers, in a darkened room, with air conditioning to decrease the humidity. I pull the blinds closed in that room, and I even have a double set of both blinds and heavy shades to keep the light out.
I personally do not use plastic, as I learned from collecting old books that you want to wrap any paper product in paper (or wood) so it can breathe. The plastic does not allow paper to breathe. Sealed plastic can trap humidity, causing mold to form. It's best not to take a chance and stick with paper (brown paper works great as a wrapper), or wood.
I would stay away from inexpensive acrylic yarns as the dyes could leach onto your cards. Maybe not now, but at some point as the yarn begins to break down it could have an effect on your cards.
I would recommend regulating the humidity level in your house, (or at least the part of your home where you store your cards) using air conditioning. Don't store them in a basement as basements can get moldy and damp. Also don't store them in an attic as that is the most extreme heat. Cards do need some humidity; but neither do you want zero humidity: you don't want the air to be dry like a desert.
I try to keep mine away from household dust. That's why I like wooden cabinets or drawers as they close and keep most of the dust out. Tarot cards, just like any paper products, need air, so they need to be kept in a place with circulating air, not stuffy air.
Good luck keeping your cards in great condition! 
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AdamMcLean
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Posted: Mon Jan 18th, 2010 08:58 am |
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missy wrote: I live in a humid, hot area with lots of sunlight.
Good luck keeping your cards in great condition!
Ah, the delight of living in temperate Britain 
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Hoodoo Housewife
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Posted: Tue Jan 19th, 2010 02:40 pm |
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missy wrote: Here, I can't leave my valuable books or tarot cards on a regular shelf, as typically they will get exposed to daylight and over time the sun will yellow them…My solution is to store them in wooden cabinets or drawers, ....I would stay away from inexpensive acrylic yarns as the dyes could leach onto your cards. Maybe not now, but at some point as the yarn begins to break down it could have an effect on your cards… I would recommend regulating the humidity level in your house, (or at least the part of your home where you store your cards) using air conditioning.
Good point. I've got mine on a bookshelf in a corner that doesn't get any direct light. I hadn't planned it that way - but I'm going to make sure now that it stays that way.
Most of my decks are together in a large wooden box. I just have to get them out of those yarn bags I made. All the bags, except one, are dark blues & purples.
I live in very dry climate. It gets really bad in the winter with the heat going - which makes me really want to get them in something where they can breathe.
Now I'm going to put more thought into how I store all my cards. I have one deck I kept in a box that I had painted myself. The box broke, so I moved them to the jewelry drawer in my nightstand until I could figure out what to do. In less than a week there was a reddish tinge to the white boarder of the cards!! The drawer lining is some kind of red fabric - I don't know what.
The box I painted purple and I painted the INSIDE. I couldn't understand why people who sold painted tarot boxes weren't painting the inside, I thought they were being lazy!! Now I know better.
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gregory
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Posted: Tue Jan 19th, 2010 02:45 pm |
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Chests of drawers and cupboards, with the sets on bookshelves in their boxes.
The room has a VERY small window, so I THINK there is no real risk of fading....
NO WAY PLASTIC ! (yes, you can see a box and a vacuum in one pic, but that was while I was in the process of moving everything around.)
Last edited on Tue Jan 19th, 2010 02:47 pm by gregory
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OctoberGwen
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Posted: Sun Jan 24th, 2010 10:32 pm |
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gregory wrote: Chests of drawers and cupboards, with the sets on bookshelves in their boxes.
The room has a VERY small window, so I THINK there is no real risk of fading....
NO WAY PLASTIC ! (yes, you can see a box and a vacuum in one pic, but that was while I was in the process of moving everything around.)
A few glimpses of the (in)famous collection!!!
Thank you, gregory.
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debra
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Posted: Sun Jan 24th, 2010 11:29 pm |
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Nice vacuum cleaner!
;)
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gregory
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Posted: Tue Jan 26th, 2010 11:36 am |
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Isn't it - it does water too, and also shampoos rugs - though NOT very well, these days....! It is VERY old now....
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missy
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Posted: Fri Jan 29th, 2010 04:46 am |
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gregory wrote:
Chests of drawers and cupboards, with the sets on bookshelves in their boxes.
Now I'm salivating!
The infamous collection, indeed!
It really looks lovely, gregory! 
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t.town.troy
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Posted: Fri Feb 5th, 2010 03:52 am |
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I have a Bohemian Gothic that I want to keep in good condition (apart from looking through the cards on occasion), and found this thread.
I have loosely wrapped the deck in cloth to keep dust and all light off the box.
"NO WAY PLASTIC !"; what about the mylar bags collectors use to store comic books?
That is quite a collection, gregory.
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gregory
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Posted: Fri Feb 5th, 2010 08:22 am |
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I would never KEEP my books in plastic, no matter what they arrived in. I have no idea about comic books, but still wouldn't take the risk. But it is possible that this mylar is special and OK.... I wouldn't know enough to chance it though.... It certainly FEELS different (my Particle deck in a magazine arrived in one, I know..) But no ziplocs or plastic storage boxes unless they are VERY not airtight !
My collection is perhaps extreme. It should hit 1600 within the next 10 days..... oops.
Last edited on Fri Feb 5th, 2010 08:29 am by gregory
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t.town.troy
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Posted: Fri Feb 5th, 2010 06:49 pm |
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O.k., from a quick google search:
"I found that the mylar doesn't breathe at all."
So I guess that's out of the question.
Too bad though, they have mylar bags that are UV resistant.
"My collection is perhaps extreme. It should hit 1600 within the next 10 days..... oops."
I'll look at it as not so much extreme as you being an archivist of tarot history.
Last edited on Fri Feb 5th, 2010 06:52 pm by t.town.troy
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skad1
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Posted: Sat Feb 6th, 2010 12:07 am |
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t.town.troy wrote: "My collection is perhaps extreme. It should hit 1600 within the next 10 days..... oops."
I'll look at it as not so much extreme as you being an archivist of tarot history.
We need somwhere for her to post scans of all her tarots. (Yes, copywrite protected) She has many I've never even HEARD of before. And my collection is now at 1365.
If I sit down and draw alot, maybe I can make 300+ tarots so I can rival Gregory?    silly, silly idea. And I can't draw very well, anyway. Well, I didn't say 300+ GOOD tarots!
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t.town.troy
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Posted: Sun Feb 7th, 2010 06:24 pm |
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300 decks of 78 cards each = 23400 separate cards! looks like you've got a lot of work ahead!
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