Penny Sleeve
Penny sleeve (noun): a thin, soft polypropylene sleeve that is a card's first layer of protection — named for once costing about a penny each. Every card worth protecting goes in a penny sleeve before anything else.
Penny Sleeves in More Detail
The hobby-standard stack is sleeve → toploader (or one-touch). The sleeve prevents surface scratches from the rigid holder; the holder prevents bends. Sleeving matters even for cards headed to grading — graders receive cards in a sleeve inside a semi-rigid holder.
Standard sleeves fit regular cards; thicker relics and slabs need appropriately sized sleeves and holders.
FAQ
Do I really need a sleeve inside a toploader?
Yes — an unsleeved card slides inside the rigid holder and picks up surface wear, which is exactly what kills grades on chrome cards.
Which side of the penny sleeve goes up?
Insert the card with the sleeve opening at the top, then slide the sleeved card into the toploader opening-first so the card can't slip out.
Related Resources
- Glossary: Toploader · One-Touch · Graded Card
- Shop: Card Sleeves & Toploaders · All Supplies