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One of the cardinal rules for making a fossil collection is "Labeling". Many collectors have Curios, Drawers, Cabinets, Boxes, Tabletops, Lit displays, Glass shelves and the common "cubby" somewhere in the den, the basement or garage to keep their fossil collection. I'm not going to address where you keep your fossils or how you admire them. I want to talk about what should be alongside your fossils. This post is strictly about labels; so no mention here of controlled climate conditions or expensive furnitures. The information we have about our fossils is the single most important part of the fossil. It doesn't matter if you found it, traded for it or bought it. A fossil without information is a neat thing to see, or use as a door stop, but falls short especially if the fossil is valuable to Science or in the market place. I thought I would share how you can meet information requirements, organize and customize your fossil collection for displaying or for just plain storage. Some collectors have electronic programs to store the fossil collection information. I have Trilobase; other programs can include other types of fossils. These are good filing systems. The actual physical fossil label with an index number is great too. Both physical records and electronic records would be best. Playing around with many styles and formats can give you a feel of how much info is needed or desired. The labels I keep with my specimens for display are more minimal. I will show how you can keep a specimen index number, name, age, strata, locality, species, acquisition, and display it well. Using labels to hold unique index #'s that correspond to the marked fossil specimens is the best system. I like to publicly display my collection in viewing display cabinets. Storing them in between showings, in plastic bins, the labels can be modified to keep things straight and keep the necessary info all at the same time. I see many styles of labels other collectors and institutions use and they are practical and pleasant to see. My ideas are just the start of possibilities to suggest organizing this important part of curating. I start with 60# cardstock; one can get many colors, textures, patterns and effects to print labels. Colors can be Neutrals, Earth Tones and Vibrants, it is all a matter of taste and personal style. The different types of formats and fonts that can make the labels, is equally wide open to taste and style. I coordinate different looking colored labels to separate groups by localities, types, kingdoms or which display I keep them together in. Most labels are coded each with (*,P or T). that notes if I found it, I purchased it or I traded for it. Your uniquely designed index numbers can have secret codes to keep a secret locality only you know the code for. One could start with a basic adopted label form on hand and then fill in the lines by handwriting the information on the label or have unique labels in a pdf file that can print one or many of that label. This is my filing card which holds more information. The file is designed to print four cards on a standard 8 X 10 sheet of paper. You are welcome to download and use my file if you wish. Fossil Catalogue Card.doc If labels are printed on an inkjet or bubble jet, the labels should get a protective coat to prevent moisture or liquids of any kind from wiping out the information. If laser printing labels it usually isn't necessary to coat. If anything is gained out of this post, make it be, labels are a must for any serious collection. If your collection is one or thousands just do the labeling; our memories aren't infallible.
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