What records should I keep of my collection?
Preservation, Storage & Insurance · Revised 3 August 2026

Keep for each object a full description, dimensions, high-resolution photographs, the invoice or provenance documentation, any condition or conservation report and the current insurance value, held both digitally and in one off-site copy. Such a record is indispensable to a claim, to a valuation and to your heirs.
Share
Related questions
Related guides

4 min read
Preserving Rare Books
Books are robust objects that fail in predictable ways. This guide covers shelving, handling, environment and the interventions an owner should never attempt.
Read the guide

4 min read
Preserving Manuscripts
Manuscripts are unique, and their materials behave differently from printed books. This guide addresses parchment, ink corrosion, seals and the housing that manuscript material requires.
Read the guide

4 min read
Preserving Works on Paper
Light is the principal threat to drawings, watercolours, prints and photographs, and its effects cannot be reversed. This guide covers framing, glazing, display periods and safe storage.
Read the guide