Advertising & Breweriana

Company Memorabilia: What to Record

Objects from a company's own history - anniversary pieces, employee badges and service awards, uniforms, corporate gifts, salesman's samples and archive items.

The Data Sheet for Company Memorabilia

The 27 fields worth recording for company memorabilia, grouped as in the ordicio app. Fields marked with a broader category come from it; the others are specific to company memorabilia.

Identification

Brand advertised Text Advertising & breweriana
Brand or product the piece advertises, e.g. Coca-Cola, Michelin, Guinness, Persil.
Company Text Advertising & breweriana
Company behind the brand or the piece, with its town if known, e.g. Brauerei Beck & Co., Bremen.
Maker Text Advertising & breweriana
Person, workshop or firm that made the object; write 'attributed to' or 'workshop of' when not certain.
Date / period Text Advertising & breweriana
When the object was made, as precise as known, e.g. 1876, c. 1890, 1920s, 2nd century AD.
Country Text Advertising & breweriana
Country of origin or issue, by its usual English name (historic states as named at the time, e.g. Kingdom of Bavaria).
Reference link Link Advertising & breweriana
Web page about this object or its reference entry (catalogue, database, sale).
Company item type Choice, or your own
Kind of company item.
  • Anniversary / commemorative piece
  • Employee badge / pin
  • Service award
  • Uniform / workwear
  • Corporate gift
  • Salesman's sample
  • Document / archive item
Occasion / use Text
Occasion or use of the piece, e.g. 100th anniversary 1958, given for 25 years of service, dealer meeting.

Physical

Height (cm) Number Advertising & breweriana
Height, measured upright as the object is meant to stand or hang.
Width (cm) Number Advertising & breweriana
Width, measured from the front.
Depth (cm) Number Advertising & breweriana
Depth, measured from front to back.
Materials Text Advertising & breweriana
Materials the object is made of, main material first.

Condition

Grade (C scale) Choice Advertising & breweriana
Condition on the 10-point C scale of advertising auctions; note half grades such as C8.5 in the condition notes.
  • C10 Mint
  • C9 Near mint
  • C8 Excellent
  • C7 Fine
  • C6 Very good
  • C5 Good
  • C4 Fair
  • C3 Poor
  • C2 Very poor
  • C1 Junk
Originality Choice Advertising & breweriana
Whether the piece is original to its time; reproductions and fantasy pieces are common for popular brands.
  • Original
  • Original, restored
  • Later reissue by the company
  • Reproduction
  • Fantasy piece (no original exists)
  • Unknown
Condition notes Text Advertising & breweriana
Faults, wear and damage in detail.
Restoration & repairs Text Advertising & breweriana
Restorations, repairs, replaced parts and cleaning, with who did them and when if known.

Acquisition

How and when the object came into the collection.

Acquisition date Date Advertising & breweriana
Date the object came into the collection.
Acquisition method Choice, or your own Advertising & breweriana
How the object came into the collection.
  • Purchase
  • Auction
  • Gift
  • Inheritance
  • Exchange / trade
  • Self-collected / found
  • Commission
Acquired from Text Advertising & breweriana
Seller, auction house (with sale and lot number), donor or place where it was found.
Purchase price Amount Advertising & breweriana
Price paid including fees and premiums.
Provenance Text Advertising & breweriana
Earlier owners and the object's history, oldest first, with sources (labels, invoices, sale catalogues).

Value

Estimated and insured value.

Estimated value Amount Advertising & breweriana
Current market value as estimated.
Valuation date Date Advertising & breweriana
Date of the current value estimate.
Valuation basis Choice Advertising & breweriana
What the estimated value is based on.
  • Own estimate
  • Recent sales / auction results
  • Dealer offer
  • Catalogue value
  • Professional appraisal
  • Insurance valuation
Insured value Amount Advertising & breweriana
Sum the object is insured for.

Collection record

Your own inventory data.

Inventory number Text Advertising & breweriana
Your own number or label for the object, e.g. C-0042, as written on its label or album page.
Storage location Text Advertising & breweriana
Where the object is kept, e.g. room, cabinet, drawer, album and page, box.

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Updated October 24, 2026