Hello Mark,

I keep a complete data slip with each shell.  Then there's a master list
ordered phylogenetically (column 2) maintained in EXCEL so it's easy to
rearrange when genus assignments change.  Column 1 is a number assigned as
follows:  First one or two alpha characters are the initials of the author
of a reference document in my library that identifies/pictures the species.
Then comes numeric characters that reflect the number assigned by the author
or the page in the document.  Columns 2 - n can be for whatever data you
wish (location collected, person from whom you got the shell, price you
paid, storage location, etc.  In addition, for self-collected shells I keep
a notebook with collecting data by location that identifies date, habitats
and all the species collected.

This system works pretty well.  Quick to find a shells on the inventory list
and a ready reference when working with them.

Marlo


I am fairly new to shell collecting and have enjoyed listening in to the
list.

While my collection is quite small, but growing, I understand now is the
time to start cataloging.  Is there a standard way to catalogue?  Do I start
with number one and assign a number to each shell as I aquire them, or
should I use a alphanumeric system where a letter of the alphabet is
assigned to each family plus a number to identify each shell in that family?

Should the number be attached to the shell itself or to it's box?  Otherwise
the paper label could be separated from the shell and the information lost.

What does everyone else do?  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Mark Stanley

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