The Cardhawk Vault
The CardHawk Vault
A curated archive of historically significant sporting artefacts
The CardHawk Vault is a curated archive of historically important sporting artefacts, documented and preserved as primary source material from the early history of global sport.
The Vault exists to showcase items whose significance extends beyond condition or rarity alone — artefacts that capture defining moments, influential figures, and the professionalisation of sport through original photography, documents, and contemporary ephemera.
Many items featured originate from press agencies, newsreel services, and official photographic archives. Others represent rare survivals from private collections. All are selected for their historical relevance, provenance, and documentary value.
What qualifies for inclusion in the Vault
Not every item handled by CardHawk enters the Vault. Inclusion is intentionally selective and reserved for artefacts that meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Original press or news service photographs
- Historically significant sporting moments or figures
- Clear contemporary provenance (press captions, stamps, agency markings)
- Early or rare material documenting the evolution of professional sport
- Items suitable for PSA/DNA authentication or archival encapsulation
The Vault is not an inventory list. Its purpose is curation, not volume.
Areas represented within the Vault
The CardHawk Vault currently includes material across multiple sporting disciplines:
- Motor Racing & Land Speed Records
- Cricket (including early international and Ashes-era material)
- Football (Association & American)
- Boxing
- Golf
Additional disciplines and artefacts will be added as the archive expands.
Selected Vault Artefacts
The following artefacts represent a curated selection from the CardHawk Vault. Each entry links to a detailed archival write-up documenting the object’s historical context, provenance, and significance.
Sir Malcolm Campbell & Leo Villa at Daytona Beach, 1928
Original International Newsreel press photograph documenting the 206.956 mph world land speed record achieved with the Napier Blue Bird. A primary visual record of one of the defining moments in early motor racing history.
Amy Johnson, c.1921
An original PSA/DNA authenticated photograph of pioneering aviator Amy Johnson, captured prior to her historic solo flight from Britain to Australia. The reverse bears contemporary handwritten identification naming Johnson’s Bridlington contemporaries and confirming first-hand personal provenance.
Greasy Neale Coaching In-Flight, c.1939
Original Newsreel Laboratory photograph showing Philadelphia Eagles head coach Greasy Neale using in-flight film projection to analyse previous games — an early example of tactical video analysis in professional American football.
Don Bradman Batting, 1934
Original Central Press press photograph capturing Don Bradman batting at the height of his powers, preserved with period newsroom markings and authenticated by PSA as a Type III photo.
George Duncan, c.1914
Original photographic illustration capturing Open Championship winner George Duncan in full follow-through, dating to the early professional era of golf and authenticated by PSA.
Further historically significant material across motor racing, cricket, football, boxing, and golf will be added to the Vault as the archive expands.
Availability and acquisition
Some artefacts featured within the CardHawk Vault are available for acquisition, while others are documented for reference and research purposes only.
Where an item is available, a discreet link will direct collectors to acquisition details on CardHawkUK, our associated retail platform. Pricing and transactions are intentionally separated from the archival presentation to maintain a clear distinction between historical documentation and ownership.
Submitting items for PSA/DNA authentication
CardHawk offers specialist support for PSA/DNA authentication, including original photographs, press images, documents, and historically significant artefacts.
PSA/DNA submissions are often complex, and costs can vary considerably depending on the nature, age, and provenance of the material involved. For this reason, we strongly recommend an initial review before submission.
If you have material you believe may be suitable for PSA/DNA authentication — particularly press photography, archive items, or historically important artefacts — we invite you to get in touch. We are happy to review what you have and advise on suitability, process, and likely outcomes before any submission is made.
Contact CardHawk about PSA/DNA submissions →
The CardHawk Vault reflects our wider role within the PSA ecosystem — not simply as a submission agent, but as an informed custodian of historically important sporting material.
As the Vault grows, it will continue to document significant artefacts from the early history of sport, providing collectors and historians with authoritative context and permanent reference.
The CardHawk Vault is curated by CardHawk. Acquisition of selected artefacts is handled via CardHawkUK.