A record warps in the heat and then skips. The sleeve bleaches at the window and, on some pressings, is half the price. In the overview Security for collectors vinyl sits with climate, the rare pressings also with the small value that fits in a box.

What gets ruined without a thief

Sun, radiator, a stack lying flat under weight, an inner sleeve that sticks. You store upright, cool, dark, not too tight. You hold by the edge. A record you leave on the platter gets dusty and warps on the machine, which itself gets warm.

When someone comes

A shelf full of spines is slow to empty, a box with the ten expensive pressings is fast. Those ten do not stand at eye level by the door. They stand unobtrusively or, if the sum requires it, in the locked cabinet, upright, not in the hot safe.

The folder

Artist, title, pressing or country, condition of disc and sleeve separately, receipt for the expensive ones. Photo of the sleeve and of the label.