The collection notebook

Give every object a traceable record.

Start with an observation

A mark on a base, a label on a frame or a dimension with its unit is more useful than an unexplained certainty. Record the observation and attach a clear original image. Keep the maker attribution as a separate user-entered field.

Keep a dated trail, including unknowns

Add acquisition or condition notes to history and link the documents that support each entry. An unknown date can remain blank. A document’s presence does not establish that every statement in it is correct.

Separate the money records

What you paid, what a seller asked, what you estimate and what a documented appraisal states answer different questions. Keep the classification, currency and source with every amount. Do not add them together as the object’s value.

Prepare a smaller handoff

A full backup is for keeping your collection. A handoff is for one object and a particular purpose. Begin with no optional records selected, add only the relevant originals, and inspect the resulting text and filenames. Keep private storage locations and notes in the private backup.

Review the evidence, then record the review

Custom checks help you remember what to inspect. A linked file can make the record easier to follow, but neither a checkbox nor this notebook authenticates an object or determines insurance coverage.