Memorabilia Display Disrupted: The Authority's New 'Slab Is the Frame'

PITTSBURGH, PA – April 22, 2026 – The world of high-end collectibles is undergoing a significant transformation as Dynamics Inc., creators of The Authority™ e-commerce platform, today unveiled a product that challenges a decades-old practice. The company has launched the industry's first rigid, large-format memorabilia slabs, a groundbreaking solution designed to protect, authenticate, and display premium collectibles without the need for a separate, often costly, frame.

Debuting in partnership with the esteemed Upper Deck Authenticated Snapshots series, this innovation introduces a simple yet powerful concept encapsulated in the slogan: "The slab is the frame." It aims to solve a major pain point for collectors of large-format prints and photographs, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars per item and revolutionizing how they curate their collections.

A New Standard for Display and Preservation

For years, collectors of signed 8x10s, posters, and other large memorabilia have faced a two-step process: acquire the item, then invest in professional framing to protect and display it. This second step can be a significant financial barrier, with custom framing costs frequently running between $200 and $500. The Authority's new product line directly addresses this issue by integrating the frame directly into the protective casing.

Available in standard display sizes ranging from 8x10 up to a commanding 24x36 inches, each collectible is encapsulated in a rigid, self-supporting slab. Unlike the flexible sleeves or thin plastic holders common in the industry, these slabs are engineered with structural integrity. They can stand upright on their own on a shelf or be easily hung on a wall, providing a gallery-ready presentation straight out of the box. This dual function as both a protective vault and a decor piece is central to its value proposition.

"Collectors have traditionally had to spend hundreds of dollars buying a frame after buying a memorabilia print," said Jeffrey Mullen, CEO of Dynamics Inc., in a statement announcing the launch. "With the introduction of a rigid, large-format memorabilia print slab, the step of purchasing a frame disappears entirely. The slab isn't just protection, it's presentation. The slab is the frame."

This approach not only offers significant cost savings but also introduces a new level of versatility. Collectors can now more easily swap and rearrange their displays to match a sports season, a new acquisition, or a change in personal taste, without the cumbersome and permanent nature of traditional framing.

Redefining the Market for Large Collectibles

The launch marks a bold expansion for The Authority™, pushing the boundaries of professional grading and encapsulation far beyond the familiar territory of trading cards and comic books. While major grading services like PSA and Beckett offer encapsulation for some oversized items like 8x10 photos, their products are primarily designed for authentication and preservation within a holder that often requires a separate stand or frame for effective display. The Authority's product is the first to be explicitly designed and marketed as a complete, all-in-one display solution for large-scale items.

"No one has ever graded or slabbed collectibles of this size before," Mullen stated, highlighting the pioneering nature of the technology. "We're introducing a completely new category of authenticated memorabilia. Collectors can now purchase premium signed prints of iconic figures and immediately have them vaulted, graded, and listed on The Authority™ platform."

This move effectively creates a new asset class within the collectibles space: professionally graded, large-format memorabilia that is instantly ready for display. The slabs' rigidity and self-supporting design are key differentiators. "They can hold their own weight," Mullen added. "You can lean it on a shelf or affix it to a wall and instantly have a display-ready piece."

By bringing the trusted process of slabbing to large prints, Dynamics Inc. is setting a new standard for how these valuable items are handled, valued, and enjoyed, combining museum-quality preservation with modern convenience.

The Power of Partnership and Platform Integration

To introduce this new category to the market, The Authority™ has strategically partnered with Upper Deck, a titan in the sports and entertainment collectibles industry. The new slabs are debuting with the Upper Deck Authenticated (UDA) Snapshots release, which features prints signed by prominent athletes. This collaboration lends immediate credibility and provides a built-in audience of dedicated collectors.

The integration between the two companies is seamless. Each memorabilia piece from the release is sold in single-piece packs on Upper Deck's popular e-Pack® platform. From there, collectors can instantly transfer their new acquisition into The Authority's ecosystem. Once on the platform, the item is vaulted securely and can be listed for sale on the marketplace or submitted for instant grading through the proprietary Reveal Grade™ technology.

Further enhancing the security and value of each piece, the official Upper Deck Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is also encapsulated with the item. This physical COA is then digitally linked to its corresponding memorabilia, creating a robust, verifiable chain of provenance that is crucial for long-term value and collector confidence.

Dynamics Inc.'s Vision for a Unified Collectibles Ecosystem

This launch is more than just a new product; it is a clear manifestation of Dynamics Inc.'s broader vision for the collectibles industry. The company operates The Authority™ as a real-time, vertically integrated platform, aiming to consolidate every step of the collecting journey—from purchase and authentication to grading, selling, and fulfillment—into a single, streamlined experience.

By expanding its services to include large-format memorabilia, The Authority™ diversifies its portfolio and strengthens its position as a multi-category leader. This move takes it beyond the highly competitive fields of trading cards, TCGs, comics, and figurines, capturing a segment of the market that has been underserved by modern grading and encapsulation technology.

The company is also the technical force behind the Universal Public Grading Standard™, an initiative aimed at bringing greater transparency and consistency to the often-opaque world of collectible grading. By combining premium imagery, innovative encapsulation technology, and a powerful e-commerce backend, Dynamics is offering collectors a fundamentally new way to acquire, manage, and display authenticated artwork tied to legendary figures in sports and entertainment.