Rare collectibles represent decades of patient accumulation and serious financial investment. Whether you are shipping a numismatic collection, a graded sports card collection, or an estate's worth of vintage memorabilia, we handle every piece with the documented care that high-value collectibles demand.
Rare collectibles are not just fragile — they are grade-sensitive. A graded PSA or BGS slab dropped during shipping is not just physically damaged; its holder is cracked, its grade is compromised, and its resale value may be permanently impacted even after re-holdering. A rare coin pressed against a rigid surface in an inadequate package develops bag marks that reduce its grade. An autographed item exposed to humidity sees ink migration that can ruin a signature worth thousands.
Standard carriers are not set up to recognize these risks. Their handlers do not know what a PSA 10 population report means, or why a coin in a PCGS holder that shifts inside its packing is being damaged by the act of transit itself. We do — and we build the packing around these specific threat vectors.
We also provide tamper-evident sealing and chain-of-custody documentation so that when a valuable collectible arrives and any party questions what happened during shipping, you have a complete record.
Every aspect of packing is designed to preserve the grade, condition, and documentation trail.
Each individual collectible is photographed and catalogued before packing. For graded cards and coins, we record the holder serial number and grade. For memorabilia, we document the authentication certificate number. This becomes your chain-of-custody record.
Once packed, boxes are sealed with tamper-evident tape. Any breach of the seal is visible on arrival. For very high-value collections, we can use serialized security tape that shows attempted re-entry.
Graded slabs (PSA, BGS, CGC) are packed in foam that prevents the slab from moving at all — not just from bouncing. The slab holder should arrive with zero evidence of internal movement.
All coin-contact materials are chemically inert. No PVC in any soft packaging layer. Holders are individually immobilized. Sulfur-free tissue where tissue contact is needed.
Autographed items, vintage trading cards, and paper-based collectibles are sealed inside polyethylene barrier layers before outer packing. Desiccant packets where appropriate for long-distance shipments.
We can advise on declared value requirements for your shipment. We document replacement value based on current market grades when you provide supporting documentation.
High-value collectibles in every category — treated with the same care as fine art.
Collectors selling or buying on the secondary market, consigning to auction, or moving collections between storage locations or residences. We provide the professional packing documentation that high-end consignment houses require.
Dealers attending national trade shows and conventions — Dallas, Houston, Chicago, New York. Show inventory packing, booth display shipping, and return logistics handled by a crating company that understands the value of what it is handling.
Estates that include valuable collectible holdings require specialist handling. We work with estate attorneys and administrators to document, pack, and ship collections for appraisal, division, or auction consignment.
Yes. Large numismatic collections require careful cataloguing, item-level documentation, and appropriate containment so individual coins cannot rub against each other or against holder edges. We can manage collections of hundreds or thousands of individual items.
Yes. Dealer card inventory — mixed grades, raw, and graded slabs — is a standard request. We pack slabs in foam trays, raw cards in rigid containers with foam backing and separators. Full inventory list provided on request.
Boxes are sealed with tamper-evident security tape after final documentation. We photograph the sealed package before handoff. The seal signature and photo form part of your chain-of-custody documentation. Any tampering is detectable on arrival.
We photograph each autographed piece at close range under controlled lighting before packing, showing the signature clearly. Authentication certificate numbers are noted. This record establishes pre-shipping condition in detail.
Yes to both. Domestic interstate shipping is routine for us. International shipping requires appropriate customs documentation and carrier selection. For registered firearms or regulated items, additional documentation requirements apply — contact us early in your planning.
Austin Crate & Freight serves the entire Austin metro — custom crating, white-glove pickup, and specialty freight for items that standard carriers cannot handle.
White-glove furniture shipping and custom crating across Austin and all of Texas. Sofas, dining sets, bedroom furniture, antiques, and pieces too large or fragile for standard carriers.
Grade-safe packing, full documentation, tamper-evident sealing. Call to discuss your specific collection.