[Nhcoll-l] Thanks

[Dirk Neumann]

Hi all,

without adding to more on the current discussions on the quality of 
labels, it might be worth to consider the following: when visiting 
especially the francophone collections in Europe, I noticed that many 
are adding additional small tags (usually paper tags with perforated 
accession numbers). Also, during earlier discussions (e.g. during the 
label workshop during SPNHC in Leiden), it was suggested to add 
handwritten accession numbers (either in India ink on the jar label or 
by adding an additional one).

At that time I though - wow, much too much work. But in fact, when you 
are sorting specimens to jars when returning from field, many of us use 
small tags or labels to tags jars for databasing. Earlier, I did this 
with non-alcohol proof pens, scribbled corrections, tissue numbers, 
field numbers onto them - and tossed them when labelling jars.

Now I use graphite pencils and/or alcohol proof pigmented ink, and 
include them in the jar. Not only do these small tags bear valuable 
information on the sorting and the person processing the incoming 
material (e.g. handwriting, corrections or additions), these small tags 
are a suited reassurance if the original jar label fails (different 
imprinting method - graphite pencil or archival quality pigmented ink 
have been used for centuries). Today, labels are usually printed from 
electronic sources (databases), and it is easy to reproduce such 
deteriorated labels. Unless the accession number is legible.

All the best
Dirk




Am 22.06.2018 um 18:13 schrieb Doug Yanega:
> On 6/22/18 8:18 AM, Bentley, Andrew Charles wrote:
>> To me, this seems like a lot of additional effort (not to mention the 
>> fact that this technology is on its way out and ever harder to 
>> maintain) to produce labels that are inferior in both quality and 
>> longevity to those produced by thermal transfer printing on spin 
>> bound polyester media.  The initial monetary investment may be 
>> greater but the reward in terms of Museum quality labels that will 
>> stand the test of time far exceeds this.
>>
> We've had thermal printer labels self-destruct when placed in ethanol 
> solution, with the layer bearing the printing softening such that any 
> friction causes it to rub off. I wouldn't consider thermal printing to 
> have passed the test of time just yet. ;-)
>
> Peace,
>

-- 
Dirk Neumann

Tel: 089 / 8107-111
Fax: 089 / 8107-300
*new email: neumann(a)snsb.de*

Postanschrift:

Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
Zoologische Staatssammlung München
Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Storage
Münchhausenstr. 21
81247 München

Besuchen Sie unsere Sammlung:
http://www.zsm.mwn.de/ich/

---------

Dirk Neumann

Tel: +49-89-8107-111
Fax: +49-89-8107-300
*new email: neumann(a)snsb.de*

postal address:

Bavarian Natural History Collections
The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Storage
Muenchhausenstr. 21
81247 Munich (Germany)

Visit our section at:
http://www.zsm.mwn.de/ich/