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It's been noted, but not really documented, that some chrome cards from the past 24 years have not held up, with the colors fading, sometimes severely. I recently came across some 1996 Topps Mickey Mantle chromes that had devolved somewhat shockingly. The skin tone's gone totally jaundiced. These are base chrome cards, not refractors, and were stored in their own penny sleeves and top-loaders, and have been exposed to light for maybe a couple hours in the past 20 years. But others from the same era are fine. Even 1993 Finest refractors seem to be vulnerable. I've got a McGwire that's fading a bit in the parts of his skin tone. I guess the red is breaking down. So I'm a little leery now of buying chromes and refractors. I've been slowly picking up 93 refs in hopes of someday building the set but I think I'll have to divest those. At least my Frank Thomas is still good.
So I'm concerned for the future of these cards. I really wanted to buy a Pujols Bowman Chrome rookie this year, and while I've not seen any with this sort of problem, if it happens it's a tremendous turnoff. Same with Trout and really any major RC of the past 20 years.
I'd like to add to this thread photos of cards with these problems, and try to identify sets that have chronic fading problems versus those that don't. I'll add some pics as I accumulate them but if anyone else has examples it would be very helpful. I'd like to see cards that have faded that you know weren't bleached in the sun or have other known causes, just ones that have broken down on their own.
So I'm concerned for the future of these cards. I really wanted to buy a Pujols Bowman Chrome rookie this year, and while I've not seen any with this sort of problem, if it happens it's a tremendous turnoff. Same with Trout and really any major RC of the past 20 years.
I'd like to add to this thread photos of cards with these problems, and try to identify sets that have chronic fading problems versus those that don't. I'll add some pics as I accumulate them but if anyone else has examples it would be very helpful. I'd like to see cards that have faded that you know weren't bleached in the sun or have other known causes, just ones that have broken down on their own.