Vintage Sports Plaque Certificate of Authenticity
Ephemera/Documentary Artifact on Wood Plaque • Vintage Sports Plaques (Conroe, Texas), Paul R. Martin (President)
Style & Movement
Corporate Commercial/Sports Memorabilia Design
Medium & Technique
Printed paper with adhesive backing on wood; offset lithography or digital printing on parchment-style paper
Creation Period
Late 20th to Early 21st Century (Circa 1990-2010)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 4 x 6 inches (document size), Portrait format affixed to a larger wood panel
Subject Description
A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) for a sports collectible, featuring an ornamental border and explanatory text regarding market value, licensing, and the authenticity of nested trading cards or photos.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair; the document shows significant adhesive breakdown and paper lifting
Estimated Market Value
$5 - $15 (as a component of a larger plaque assembly)
Auction Estimate
$0 - $25 (valued largely by the specific card or photo it accompanies)
Provenance History
Produced by Vintage Sports Plaques in Conroe, Texas; likely originally sold through sports memorabilia retailers or specialty hobby shops
Art Historical Significance
Representational of the mass-produced sports memorabilia boom of the 1990s and the commercialization of the 'limited edition' collectible industry
Notable Features
Includes the SCA (Sports Collectibles Association) logo and the signature of Paul R. Martin; features a faux-parchment decorative border typical of 1990s authentication documents
Condition Issues
Severe lifting of a diagonal tape strip or adhesive layer across the center; yellowing of the adhesive; minor wear to the wood substrate edges
Conservation Recommendations
Store in a climate-controlled environment to prevent further adhesive dehydration; professional re-adhesion if the lifting poses a risk to the paper's integrity