Field guides
The manual
Short, specific, and written so you can act on them tonight. Each one ends with the supplies it actually mentions.
HandlingThe first hour with a new pullWhat to do between opening the pack and deciding whether the card is for a deck, a binder, or a grader.6 minReadSleevesSleeve sizes, and how to double-sleeveStandard is not 'Japanese Pokémon'. Japanese size is Yu-Gi-Oh!. Getting that wrong wastes a whole box.8 minReadBindersBinders that do not bend the holosRings dent cards. Top-load pages empty themselves. PVC sticks. The fix is dull and it works.7 minReadClimateHumidity, light, and the cupboardSleeves do not fix a damp wall or a south-facing sill. The room is part of the storage.7 minReadShippingPosting a card without eating the cornersThe stack is penny, toploader, team bag, cardboard. Anything sticky stays off the card.6 minReadGradingGrading prep without wrecking the cardWhat the companies are grading, what they want it packed in, and the cleaning advice that is really damage.8 minReadLorcanaLorcana: standard sleeves, and the foil curlThe cards are Pokémon-sized. The foils are the part that misbehaves.5 minReadDamageFoils, curl, and the short list of what ruins cardsThe failure modes are boring. That is good news: you can just not do them.7 minRead