Regarding marking leather: According to Dudley & Wilkinson's MUSEUM REGISTRATION METHODS (3rd ed., 1979), "The number is applied in paint or ink on a smooth, inconspicuous surface ... It can be placed on the back side or under the front, under a flap.... Unless the leather is rawhide, however, or an extremely stiff, nonporous leather as was used for fire buckets, it may be damaged by solvents should numbers marked in paint or ink ever have to be removed.... For buckskin and rawhide, a laundry marker may be used.... For flexible leathers, a cloth label may be attached by stitches passed carefully around and underneath the thread with which the object has been constructed, provided that the existing stitching is strong enough to withstand such manipulation. Cloth labels can also be attached to linings or to the underside of maker's labels..... Or they may be looped by sewing their ends together around an appendage such as a strap or belt loop. Or the number may be placed on metal decoration or hardware...." (pp. 60-61). As for materials, the labels should be acid-free paper tags (or 100% rag) or cotton or linen tapes. As for marking on the labels, suggestions include medium pencil on paper tags, or for cloth tags, permanent ink or ballpoint pen. Some even type the number on (having first taped the label to a sheet of paper so it can be put into a typewriter). As for paint, there are lots of choices: oils in vermilion, cadmium red, Venetian red (red resists fading), or white or black. You might also use acrylics, which dry faster but don't last as long and need to be sealed with a protective overcoat. You could even use ink in place of paint. (pp. 48-50). I hope that helps. Of course, a professional conservator is your best bet here. Regards, Doug ........................ Doug Lantry University of Delaware [log in to unmask] On Wed, 17 Jan 1996, GOLDSWORTHY, Shirley wrote: > Is anyone working on costume collections willing to share info. > I am curating a costume collection at the Museum of Victoria and currently > registering and cataloguing boots and shoes. Does anyone have some advice > on the best method for putting registration numbers of leather? > > My Email is: [log in to unmask] >