1983 Topps Football Fold-Out Steve Bartkowski Disc

This is a circular cardboard disc featuring Atlanta Falcons quarterback Steve Bartkowski, part of the 1983 Topps Fold-Out 'Football Stars' set. The item is approximately 1.5 inches in diameter and is constructed from a medium-weight cardstock with a semi-gloss finish. The design features a centered color portrait of Bartkowski against a soft neutral background. Surrounding the portrait is a vibrant red border containing bold black typography. At the top, the team name 'FALCONS' is displayed, while the player's name 'STEVE BARTKOWSKI' curves along the bottom. The number '10', representing his jersey number, is printed on both the left and right sides of the border. Regarding condition, the disc shows signs of age consistent with a 40-year-old sports collectible. There is visible edge wear around the perimeter where the red ink has chipped slightly, revealing the underlying cardboard fibers. The surface has light scuffing and a mild oxidation or yellowing on the central photo area. No major creases or water damage are immediately visible, though the centering of the print is slightly shifted towards the bottom left. These discs were originally sold in a folded strip format, and this individual piece has been separated. The craftsmanship is typical of 1980s mass-produced sports ephemera, representing a distinct era of NFL memorabilia before the modern ultra-premium card market appeared.

I have conducted a visual examination of the 1983 Topps Football Fold-Out disc featuring Steve Bartkowski. This item is a classic example of early 1980s regional/alternative sports ephemera. The piece exhibits characteristics consistent with mass-produced Topps stock from this era, including the specific dot-matrix printing pattern and the semi-gloss coating typical of the 'Football Stars' set. Condition-wise, the disc is in 'Good' to 'Very Good' condition (roughly equivalent to a PSA 4 or 5). The visible edge wear and chipping along the red perimeter are common for these discs, as they were often roughly handled after being separated from their original accordian-style strips. The slight yellowing and scuffing on the portrait are indicative of natural aging but detract from the eye appeal. The centering shift is a common manufacturing flaw from 1983 and further limits the ceiling for professional grading. Market demand for Bartkowski items remains steady among Falcons team collectors, though he does not command the premium prices of Hall of Fame contemporaries like Joe Montana or Dan Fouts. Collectors typically seek these out in complete, unseparated strips. Individually separated discs, especially with edge wear, are abundant and generally trade at a low price point. Limitations: This appraisal is based solely on digital imagery. For a definitive authentication, I would need to examine the cardstock density, verify the absence of modern digital printing artifacts under 10x magnification, and check the 'black light' fluorescence of the paper fibers. While I see no immediate red flags for forgery—given the item's low market value makes counterfeiting improbable—physical inspection is required for a formal Certificate of Authenticity.