Documents & Photographs: What to Record

Identification

Country Text Militaria

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

Armed force / branch Text Militaria

Armed force, branch or organisation, e.g. Royal Navy, Prussian Army, US Army Air Forces.

Conflict / period Choice Militaria

Conflict or period of use.

13 choices

• Before 1800
• Napoleonic Wars (1799 to 1815)
• 19th century (other)
• American Civil War (1861 to 1865)
• Franco-Prussian War (1870 to 1871)
• First World War (1914 to 1918)
• Interwar (1919 to 1939)
• Second World War (1939 to 1945)
• Korean War (1950 to 1953)
• Cold War (1947 to 1991)
• Vietnam War (1955 to 1975)
• Since 1991
• Peacetime / ceremonial

Unit Text Militaria

Regiment, ship, squadron or other unit.

Named to Text Militaria

Recipient or owner named on the item or in documents, with rank and number.

Date / period Text Militaria

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

Document type Choice, or your own

Kind of document.

• Pay book / service record
• Award document
• Letter / field post
• Photograph
• Map
• Manual / book

Marks

Maker & marks Text Militaria

Maker, proof and acceptance marks, e.g. LDO, RZM, maker code 21, broad arrow.

Inscriptions & marks Text Militaria

Signatures, labels, stamps, hallmarks, maker's marks and numbers, transcribed as they appear and with their position.

Physical

Materials Text Militaria

Materials the object is made of, main material first.

Height (cm) Number Militaria

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

Width (cm) Number Militaria

Width, measured from the front.

Weight (g) Number Militaria

Weight of the object (without stand, frame or holder unless noted).

Condition

Condition Choice Militaria

Overall condition in plain terms; domains with an established grading scale use that scale instead.

• Mint / as new
• Excellent
• Very good
• Good
• Fair
• Poor

Condition notes Text Militaria

Faults, wear and damage in detail.

Restoration & repairs Text Militaria

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

Certificate / expertise Text Militaria

Certificates of authenticity or expert opinions, with issuer, date and number.

Legal

Restrictions on possession, display or trade where you live.

Legal status Text Militaria

Status under the weapons law where you live, e.g. antique exempt, deactivated with certificate, licence required.

Acquisition

How and when the object came into the collection.

Acquisition date Date Militaria

Date the object came into the collection.

Acquisition method Choice, or your own Militaria

How the object came into the collection.

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

Acquired from Text Militaria

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

Purchase price Amount Militaria

Price paid including fees and premiums.

Provenance Text Militaria

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

Value

Estimated and insured value.

Estimated value Amount Militaria

Current market value as estimated.

Valuation date Date Militaria

Date of the current value estimate.

Valuation basis Choice Militaria

What the estimated value is based on.

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

Insured value Amount Militaria

Sum the object is insured for.

Collection record

Your own inventory data.

Inventory number Text Militaria

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

Storage location Text Militaria

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