[Rockhounds] Numbering Specimens (WAS: Paint)

[Kreigh Tomaszewski]

John,

Your catalog is where you want to record the experience of your 
collecting trips. Your memory may get hazy over time, but documented 
details will help keep it fresh. Tidbits about when and where and how a 
specimen was collected make the specimen more valuable to you, and to 
anyone who may come into possession of it in the future.

Every specimen in our collections holds a bit of history. Each specimen 
captures some geological history, but needs an accurate locality to put 
it into context. Each specimen captures some history of the locality 
but needs a time frame to put it into context. Each specimen captures 
some of your life, but needs your personal comments/observations to put 
it into context.

Be not afraid to take time with each specimen. You have already 
recognized it will take years to catch up (I'm still working on it 
slowly, and I have years of a head start on you), so you might as well 
take time to do it right.

BTW, and I think Julie will also appreciate this, I started cataloging 
with 0001, but my first label was 0000; I'm still trying to figure out 
which specimen deserves first place in my catalog, but I'm only about 
half done cataloging my collection (and I started ten years ago).

I hope your question, and the many well thought out responses from the 
list, will inspire other collectors to start cataloging their 
collection. The memories it invokes makes the effort worthwhile, and 
enhances the value of the collection you curate.

Enjoy!

Kreigh




On Tuesday, Dec 2, 2008, at 20:21 America/Detroit, John Siebel wrote:
<snip>
>
> As an aside - I'm enjoying the heck out this process as I relive the 
> experience of each collecting trip and the, "Whoa! Julie look at 
> this!" that each specimen brings to mind. That's the joy I get out of 
> this avocation.
>
> Thanks again to all - John
>
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