Signs: What to Record

Identification

Brand advertised Text Advertising & breweriana

Brand or product the piece advertises, e.g. Coca-Cola, Michelin, Guinness, Persil.

Company Text Advertising & breweriana

Company behind the brand or the piece, with its town if known, e.g. Brauerei Beck & Co., Bremen.

Maker Text Advertising & breweriana

Person, workshop or firm that made the object; write 'attributed to' or 'workshop of' when not certain.

Date / period Text Advertising & breweriana

When the object was made, as precise as known, e.g. 1876, c. 1890, 1920s, 2nd century AD.

Country Text Advertising & breweriana

Country of origin or issue, by its usual English name (historic states as named at the time, e.g. Kingdom of Bavaria).

Reference link Link Advertising & breweriana

Web page about this object or its reference entry (catalogue, database, sale).

Sign material Choice, or your own

What the sign is made of.

• Porcelain enamel
• Lithographed tin
• Embossed tin
• Painted metal
• Neon
• Light-up (plastic or glass)
• Reverse-painted glass
• Wood
• Cardboard / paper

Sides Choice

Whether the sign is printed on one or both sides (flange and hanging signs are double-sided).

• Single-sided
• Double-sided

Physical

Height (cm) Number Advertising & breweriana

Height, measured upright as the object is meant to stand or hang.

Width (cm) Number Advertising & breweriana

Width, measured from the front.

Depth (cm) Number Advertising & breweriana

Depth, measured from front to back.

Materials Text Advertising & breweriana

Materials the object is made of, main material first.

Condition

Grade (C scale) Choice Advertising & breweriana

Condition on the 10-point C scale of advertising auctions; note half grades such as C8.5 in the condition notes.

• C10 Mint
• C9 Near mint
• C8 Excellent
• C7 Fine
• C6 Very good
• C5 Good
• C4 Fair
• C3 Poor
• C2 Very poor
• C1 Junk

Originality Choice Advertising & breweriana

Whether the piece is original to its time; reproductions and fantasy pieces are common for popular brands.

• Original
• Original, restored
• Later reissue by the company
• Reproduction
• Fantasy piece (no original exists)
• Unknown

Condition notes Text Advertising & breweriana

Faults, wear and damage in detail.

Restoration & repairs Text Advertising & breweriana

Restorations, repairs, replaced parts and cleaning, with who did them and when if known.

Acquisition

How and when the object came into the collection.

Acquisition date Date Advertising & breweriana

Date the object came into the collection.

Acquisition method Choice, or your own Advertising & breweriana

How the object came into the collection.

• Purchase
• Auction
• Gift
• Inheritance
• Exchange / trade
• Self-collected / found
• Commission

Acquired from Text Advertising & breweriana

Seller, auction house (with sale and lot number), donor or place where it was found.

Purchase price Amount Advertising & breweriana

Price paid including fees and premiums.

Provenance Text Advertising & breweriana

Earlier owners and the object's history, oldest first, with sources (labels, invoices, sale catalogues).

Value

Estimated and insured value.

Estimated value Amount Advertising & breweriana

Current market value as estimated.

Valuation date Date Advertising & breweriana

Date of the current value estimate.

Valuation basis Choice Advertising & breweriana

What the estimated value is based on.

• Own estimate
• Recent sales / auction results
• Dealer offer
• Catalogue value
• Professional appraisal
• Insurance valuation

Insured value Amount Advertising & breweriana

Sum the object is insured for.

Collection record

Your own inventory data.

Inventory number Text Advertising & breweriana

Your own number or label for the object, e.g. C-0042, as written on its label or album page.

Storage location Text Advertising & breweriana

Where the object is kept, e.g. room, cabinet, drawer, album and page, box.