Posted 05/28/2018 5:37 pm
I'm the systematic type, too, and approached my collection from a few notes to over 3,500 in the following manner : Do NOT label your notes. Waste of time.
The printed ink will smear, and migrate. Don't use it.
If you use an album, you need the sleeve in each pocket. This eliminates further handling of the note and maybe losing a half-grade, and you will not put a clean UNC note in where you just removed a dirty VF note, as well. So you're buying both sleeves and album pages, and binders, and so on. Binders also require slipcases, to keep out the dust, or closed shelves.
I used binders for years, then switched for the lowest cost of storage, and never looked back.
My goal was the least lifetime cost of storage, with the least amount of prep and inventory time per note, and the most eye appeal, archival nature, and eliminate further handling of the note once it is in the sleeve. Sleeve, box, inventory, were all I needed to accomplish this, I believe. Adding anything else just required more time and effort, better spent on enjoying the hobby, instead.
I use sleeves, not albums, for a total storage cost per note of $0.40. This includes a Globe-Weis file box, the sleeve, and no label. The 5x8 sleeves are fold-over top, and fit the boxes perfectly. The boxes are lidded, and stack.
I use an Excel spreadsheet to inventory each note by country, year, issuing entity, grade, serial number, cost, and value, and can extract a lot of other data from the initial data entries.
I do not label the sleeves at all, it just adds one penny for the cost of the label, and takes time to write it out, and put them on the holder. My Excel sheet already tells me what the note is, if I need to, I'll refer to it. You will find that the foreign alphabets and names are very easily learned and you will soon wonder why you needed any labeling at all beyond your basic inventory. You collection will also remain attractive and not larded up with post-it notes and Xerox papers covered in handwriting, all of which take time to put with each note.
It's not really rocket science, the labels are not necessary, and I think they actually hinder sorting, inventory, and the appeal of the collection to the viewer. It's not justified by the time spent, additional cost, or eye appeal, or even the basic need, to me.
Hope this helps.
The printed ink will smear, and migrate. Don't use it.
If you use an album, you need the sleeve in each pocket. This eliminates further handling of the note and maybe losing a half-grade, and you will not put a clean UNC note in where you just removed a dirty VF note, as well. So you're buying both sleeves and album pages, and binders, and so on. Binders also require slipcases, to keep out the dust, or closed shelves.
I used binders for years, then switched for the lowest cost of storage, and never looked back.
My goal was the least lifetime cost of storage, with the least amount of prep and inventory time per note, and the most eye appeal, archival nature, and eliminate further handling of the note once it is in the sleeve. Sleeve, box, inventory, were all I needed to accomplish this, I believe. Adding anything else just required more time and effort, better spent on enjoying the hobby, instead.
I use sleeves, not albums, for a total storage cost per note of $0.40. This includes a Globe-Weis file box, the sleeve, and no label. The 5x8 sleeves are fold-over top, and fit the boxes perfectly. The boxes are lidded, and stack.
I use an Excel spreadsheet to inventory each note by country, year, issuing entity, grade, serial number, cost, and value, and can extract a lot of other data from the initial data entries.
I do not label the sleeves at all, it just adds one penny for the cost of the label, and takes time to write it out, and put them on the holder. My Excel sheet already tells me what the note is, if I need to, I'll refer to it. You will find that the foreign alphabets and names are very easily learned and you will soon wonder why you needed any labeling at all beyond your basic inventory. You collection will also remain attractive and not larded up with post-it notes and Xerox papers covered in handwriting, all of which take time to put with each note.
It's not really rocket science, the labels are not necessary, and I think they actually hinder sorting, inventory, and the appeal of the collection to the viewer. It's not justified by the time spent, additional cost, or eye appeal, or even the basic need, to me.
Hope this helps.
Edited by paxbrit
05/28/2018 5:42 pm
05/28/2018 5:42 pm
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