Upper Deck Ice 2016-17 High End prices require High End Quality!
With ever changing technologies and advancements in the trading card industry, hobbiests have lots to be excited about. With game materials from jerseys to pucks being included in cards to autos and acetates its only a matter of time before urine and blood samples will be available to collect /jk. Which brings me to this years Ice 2016-17 series.
I am not sure when clear cut, or acetates came on the scene, but I think it was in the early to mid 90's, I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong. Either way the acetate has taken card collecting to a whole new level for the hobby and adds more choice for the high end enthusiast.
I am a big fan of these types of cards but at an average cost of about $6.00 per card and boxes being a hit or miss kinda deal it makes it difficult to collect the whole set for the average collector but is a nice treat to open on occasion. This years series consists of a 100 card base set and several subsets. One of my favorites being the Subzero set. With old legends like Bobby Orr and current players and rookies included in the mix it makes for some great cards to get your hands on. I also like the thicker Exquisite Collection set which is eloquently done and a very classy looking card. I managed to pull a William Nylander Rookies #'d to 299 Exquisite 180 pt card. Here is a picture of that card.
With 100 cards in the base set and 30 subsets consisting of an additional 756 cards making this an absolutely huge set of 856 cards. Collecting every card I would consider next to impossible considering the amount of short prints in this series. However that should never deter one from grabbing some of the finest looking as well as most durable cards on the market. They are resistant to damage if properly taken care of. I put one of the base cards through the tests and found that the cards held up to severe flexing, minor drops on the floor and even liquid being spilled on the cards. Providing the liquid is not boiling hot. These acetate cards hold up to a wide range of common accidents that can happen to cards over the years. Not sure how sunlight, dampness, heat, cold, and pressure will affect these cards over time but like I said if properly stored they should last for many generations. Do Not Try the liquid test on other cards that are not acetate, these tests were only applied to the ACETATE cards!
Severe flexiblity
Over all these are a very eye pleasing, see through, plexiglass looking cards that holds up very well to minor accidents with minimal damage. Kept in a one touch or even a soft sleeve put into a top loader should keep these gems mint for many many moons. :)
Pros : Flexible, water resistant, holds up to minor accidents, should stay mint for many generations if properly stored
Cons: Easily scratched, heat is an enemy, expensive