The Old Label Is Part of the Fossil

Handwritten labels, dealer cards, museum exchanges, and field numbers can preserve irreplaceable history.

The practical rule

• Keep original labels even when the identification is wrong.
• Photograph both sides and store an archival copy.
• Never separate a collection number from its record.

What to record

Preserve the original seller description, photographs, invoice, claimed locality, formation, age, dimensions, and every statement about preparation or restoration. Add your own interpretation as a dated note rather than replacing the original record.

What makes a stronger collection

A coherent collection is not necessarily the largest or most expensive. It contains specimens that can be compared, explained, and traced. Documentation turns a decorative object into a durable teaching and research asset.

Next step

Choose one specimen and improve its record today: photograph the reverse, measure it, transcribe the label, save the invoice, or document restoration boundaries.