Navy Letterpress Card Care: Keep Colors Crisp

Quick answer

Keep navy letterpress cards crisp by storing them in a dark, dry place away from sunlight and handling them with clean, dry hands. A few consistent habits prevent fading and surface wear without special equipment.

Step-by-step card care routine

1. Handle with clean, dry hands: Wash and thoroughly dry your hands before touching the card. Avoid hand lotion or sanitizer right before handling, as residue can transfer to the ink. Hold the card by the edges rather than the printed area. Checkpoint: if you can see fingerprints on the card, clean them gently with a dry, soft cloth before storing.
2. Store away from direct sunlight: Keep cards in a closed box or drawer that receives no direct sun. A dark closet or cabinet works well. If you display a card, rotate it every few weeks so no single area is exposed to light for too long. Checkpoint: even a sunny shelf near a window can cause fading over time—choose a spot that stays dim most of the day.
3. Use acid-free, archival storage: Place cards in acid-free sleeves or between sheets of acid-free tissue paper inside a sturdy box. Avoid PVC plastic sleeves, which can off-gas and damage paper over years. The protective cello sleeve the card ships in is fine for short-term storage, but swap to acid-free materials for long-term keeping. Checkpoint: if you store multiple cards together, interleave tissue so printed surfaces don't rub against each other.
4. Control humidity and temperature: Store cards in a space that stays between 60–70°F (15–21°C) with moderate humidity, away from radiators, bathrooms, and damp basements. Fluctuations cause paper to expand and contract, which can crack the ink layer. Checkpoint: a simple hygrometer is inexpensive and helps you confirm humidity stays in the 40–50% range.
5. Handle envelopes separately: Keep the matching soft white envelope with the card but store it behind or beside the card, not stacked directly on the printed side. Envelope edges can press into the ink during storage. Checkpoint: if the envelope has a gummed flap, keep it dry so it doesn't stick to the card.
6. Inspect and air occasionally: Every few months, open the storage box and let cards air for a few minutes in a shaded, dry room. Check for any signs of moisture, curling, or fading. This also gives you a chance to rotate displayed cards. Checkpoint: if you notice curling, move the card to a flatter storage position under light weight (like a clean book) for a few days.

Product facts

• Comes in Waves Letterpress Card in Navy: Letterpress printed from a hand-carved woodblock on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. The recycled paper surface is slightly more porous, so it benefits from gentle handling and dry storage to keep the navy ink from absorbing moisture or oils.