Prince's Platinum Record Award for 1999

Description

A framed award commemorating the sale of over one (1) million copies of the album “1999” by Prince from the Recording Industry Association of America. The award features a platinum record album with the “1999” center label attached. The label depicts Prince’s proper left eye and eyebrow, with the spindle hole in the center of the iris. Affixed at the bottom of the record is one half of a cassette tape, also covered in platinum. In the label area of the cassette a plaque is attached that is engraved with the text: “PLATINUM SALES AWARD”. Below the cassette tape is a silver plaque divided into thirds. On the left side of the plaque is a small image of the “1999” album cover. In the middle section the plaque is engraved with text that reads: “PRESENTED TO / PRINCE / TO COMMEMORATE THE SALE OF MORE THAN / 1,000,000 COPIES OF THE / WARNER BROS. RECORDS / ALBUM, CASSETTE AND C.D. / ‘1999’”. On the right side of the plaque is a holographic sticker that reads “RIAA / CERTIFIED SALES AWARD”. The album, cassette, and plaque are mounted on dark blue paper, which is covered with black matting board so that only a thin frame of the blue paper is visible as an outline around the items. The wood frame is covered in black vinyl on the left, right and top edges. The verso is covered in brown paper and a metal self-leveling sawtooth picture hanger is stapled at the center top of the frame.

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Issued by

RCA Records, founded 1901

Owned by

Prince, American, 1958 - 2016

Date

1983

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Medium

plastic, glass, paper, metal, and wood

Dimensions

H x W x D: 21 × 17 × 1 1/8 in. (53.3 × 43.2 × 2.9 cm)

Type

multimedia works