FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does TTM mean?
Through-the-mail. It refers to acquiring an autograph by writing a fan letter to a hockey player.

What does SASE mean?
Self-addressed stamped envelope. It is an envelope with your address and a stamp on it. When writing to a hockey player, you should always include a self-addressed envelope with proper postage.

How much postage do I need to put on my letter?
These postage rates are accurate as of October 8, 2012, and are enough to cover the cost of a 2-page letter, one SASE and up to 6 cards.

USA USA to USA = 46 cents USA to Canada = $1.10 USA to Europe = $1.10 (For letters up to 1 oz) Click here for more info

Canada Canada to Canada = 63 cents Canada to USA = $1.10 Canada to Europe = $1.85 (For letters up to 30 g.) Click here for more info

Please note that the above rates are for when sending cards through the mail using business-sized envelopes. If you plan on sending out 8" x 10" photographs or other items, please consult the United States or Canadian post office websites to determine proper postage. 

Remember that when writing to a country other than yours, you will need to have stamps from that country for your return SASE.

What if I live in the United States and I'm writing to a Canadian address?
What if I live in Canada and I'm writing to a United States address?
If you live in the U.S., you will need Canadian stamps for your SASE when sending a letter to Canada. Likewise for Canadians – you’ll need U.S. postage for your SASE when to the U.S.

A great way to get the stamps you need is to trade with a collector on the other side of the border. Websites such as HockeyDB.com and SportsCardForum.com have message boards, which are good for finding someone willing to trade stamps. You can also purchase stamps online from the United States and Canadian Post Offices.

What should I do for return postage when writing to players in Europe?
When writing to a player in Europe, one problem is acquiring European postage for your SASE. A simple workaround is to enclose a few dollars (American or Canadian) and explain that it is to cover postage costs from Europe to North America (and certainly not a bribe). Two bucks should be sufficient.

Should I put my cards in penny sleeves before sending them out?
No. Soft card sleeves--aka "penny sleeves"--usually do more harm than good. Here is why:

• Sometimes, a player will put the card back into the penny sleeve before the ink on his autograph dries, causing it to smear. This has happened to me quite a few times.
• Retired players--from the Original Six era, especially--have been known to autograph the penny sleeve instead of removing the card. Sounds funny, but it has happened.

That said, you should not put the cards in rigid toplaoders, either. The best way to send your cards is naked (the cards, that is...you should be clothed when mailing your cards).   

Autographs on glossy cards smudge easily. Can I do something about that?
The heavy amount of gloss prevents ink from adhering to the surface of a card. To make the autograph "stick" better, you can rub it down with a white art eraser to remove some of the gloss. Do not use a pink eraser, like the one at the end of a pencil. White erasers are soft, and will remove some of the gloss without damaging the card. You can get a white eraser at an art supply store for about $2.

Where did you get [PLAYER NAME]'s address?
If the player is active, most likely I wrote to him in care of (c/o) the team he plays for

• NHL team addresses
• AHL team addresses

If the player is retired, but still works in hockey--as a coach, assistant coach, general manager, scout, etc.--then I wrote to him c/o the team he works for.

Otherwise, I probably got the player's address from either Sports Card Forum or HockeyDB. Please check those sites before asking me for an address, because that's where I find most of my addresses.

Can I email you and tell you how much I like this blog?
Sure. And if you have any other questions not covered here, please feel free to contact me. I'm always happy to help a fellow collector out.

- Sal

sjb@puckjunk.com