Introducing Elite2 Deck Guards

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Ted Litvan

To keep gaming cards in good condition, BCW’s standard Deck Guards are a great value. In 2017, we introduced Elite Deck Guards for players that demanded thicker sleeves for better durability and better protection for their cards. While BCW is proud of the quality of Elite Deck Guards, we received feedback from Team BCW and the gaming community, suggesting refinements. This evolution has led to our next generation of premium card sleeves – Elite2 Deck Guards.

As with the previous Elite Deck Guards, the Elite2 versions have a nice textured back that’s great for shuffling. Strong seams will keep the layers welded together through numerous games. Team BCW members have not reported issues with sleeve splitting after using Elite2 Deck Guards through several SCG Opens.

Elite2 Deck Guards are available in matte or gloss finish. This characteristic refers to the clear layer, not the colored layer. While the gloss sleeves present the card artwork and foil reflections best, you may prefer the matte finish sleeves to reduce glare.

We made the following refinements to Elite2 Deck Guards, based on feedback from the previous Elite Deck Guards:

Single BCW Elite2 deck guard

To ensure all Elite 2 Deck Guards are 100% opaque on the colored back layer, we added a blackout layer. This will make all colors of Elite2 Deck Guards tournament legal for games that demand you cannot view anything through the sleeves, such as Magic: The Gathering. This added blackout layer makes the Elite2 Deck Guards slightly firmer than the original Elites.

We added two millimeters to the height of Elite2 Deck Guards, as compared to the original Elites. This is to accommodate some brands of inner sleeves. While BCW Inner Sleeves fit perfectly inside standard Deck Guards and the original Elite Deck Guards, some inner sleeves from other brands are slightly taller. Adding the extra height to our Elite2 Deck Guards will allow all brands of inner sleeves to fit inside the sleeves appropriately.

We have increased the number of sleeves per package and now offer the Elite2 Deck Guards in packs of 100. The original Elite Deck Guards were only offered in packs of 80. The increased quantity is better for Commander players, or simply provides some extra sleeves.

Package of mulberry Elite2 matte sleeves

Elite 2 Deck Guards are available in Black, Blue, Red, Green, Teal, Cool Gray, and Mulberry, with more colors coming soon.

Elite 2 Deck Guards are a great value for premium card sleeves. Why pay more for great sleeves? Try our Elite2 Deck Guards today and see for yourself what a great value BCW offers.

While quantities last, the original Elite Deck Guards and other discontinued gaming accessories are available at 20% off their normal price.

Do Sleeved Cards Fit in 9-Pocket Pages?

Posted on March 30, 2015 by blogbcwsupplies

On Twitter, RipkenFan asked, “Does any 1 put their cards in penny sleeves & then in pocket pages? What combo of brands? I cannot get a good fit.”

Walter Payton cards in BCW card sleeves and 9-Pocket Top-Loading Pages

Standard BCW sleeves (1-SSLV), nicknamed penny sleeves, fit in the pockets of BCW’s 9-Pocket Top-Loading Pages (1-PRO9T-20, 1-PRO9T-100), our most common page. However, the sleeved cards fit tight in the center column which may cause the sleeve to fold or bunch-up slightly.

Jerry Rice cards in BCW card sleeves and 9-Pocket Side-Loading pages

If you want to sleeve your cards and place them in a page, BCW 9-Pocket Side-Loading Pages are recommended (1-PRO9S-20). The side-loading pages offer a little more room for the sleeved cards compared to the top-loading page.

As both of these protective pages are made from acid-free polypropylene, the pages are archival quality. Placing the cards in sleeves before inserting into the pages is a matter of preference, buy it’s a smart idea to keep fingerprints off the cards while handling and to make sure you don’t scratch the card when inserting or removing cards from pages.

First Day Cover Collecting

Posted on October 23, 2014 by blogbcwsupplies

A First Day Cover (FDC) is an envelope or postcard with a stamp that has been cancelled by the post office on the first day the stamp was issued. This traditionally involves getting a “First Day of Issue” postmark on the stamp on the respective date, however those rules have relaxed in the U.S., and now FDC collectors can send stamped envelopes to a Special Event Coordinator to get special “First Day of Issue” postmarks. Often first day of issue stamps are placed on special First Day Cover #6 envelopes or postcards, known as cachets, that commemorate the topic of the stamp.

American Circus First Day Cover
Source: Larry Kellogg, www.worthpoint.com

Collecting First Day Covers is fun for stamp collectors as it requires some participation…

First, you must be aware of the release schedule for new stamps if you plan to collect new First Day Covers. This USPS site is a good reference for U.S. stamps. Previously released First Day Covers can be found at stamp stores, antique stores and online.

Second, there are numerous topics for stamps and First Day Cover cachets. If you have a favorite theme, such as bird stamps, collecting FDCs of that theme can be fun and rewarding.

Third, getting an envelope franked with a “First Day of Issue” postmark in only done at the post office (or a special postal station) in one location traditionally. Often there’s a First Day Ceremony for a new stamp design. So if a stamp depicts a historical event, the location related to the historical event may host a First Day Ceremony. As an example, The Batman themed First Day Cover below was available at US Post Offices on October 9th, 2014 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Caped Crusader. This stamp release was coordinated with the New York Comic Con, where the Post Office established a temporary postal station, Gotham City Station. Parcels cancelled at Gotham City Station received a special pictorial postmark, adding another interesting aspect for stamp collectors. As a service to stamp collectors not attending the New York Comic Con, the USPS allowed customers to mail envelopes or postcards with the adhered Batman stamp to a Special Event Coordinator in New York City and then the stamps receive the special First Day of Issue postmark and get mailed to the respective address.

Batman First Day Cover with pictorial postmark

BCW Supplies offer several items to protect, store and display First Day Cover envelopes and postcards. Select from sleeves, toploaders, and pages for 3-ring binders. See all of BCW’s Postcard and Envelope Supplies.

Custom FDC with Perseverance on Mars stamp — A custom drawn FDC with a Perseverance on Mars stamp

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