The guides are practical texts for anyone who works with art: how to document an artwork, what to review before signing with a gallery, when an artwork ceases to be protected. They differ from the articles in the Public Notebook in their function. The Notebook analyses and interprets; the guides explain how to do something and which rules, data or documents each step relies on. That is why they are updated when what underpins them changes, and each one shows the date it was last checked.
Verified means that on that date I checked every fact, rule and link against its primary source. Reviewed means that I re-read and updated the text without repeating that full check. When only Updated appears, the date corresponds to the last edit.
The guides offer general information. They do not constitute individualised legal, tax or professional advice: for a specific case, consult a qualified professional.
Total: 145
Featured resource
Master artwork record
An open-format template for keeping a consistent inventory of your work from the studio onwards. The ODS workbook brings together four sheets: master record, restricted data, gallery deposit and key. It includes validations, filters, frozen headers and an example row.
The gallery deposit sheet fills in the title automatically from the inventory number. It is a record of the works delivered, not a contract. Terms of custody, insurance, sale, commission and return must be agreed separately.
The restricted data sheet contains personal, financial and location information. It must not be published, nor shared together with the general record.
The ODS is the main resource. The CSV files let you import the master record, the restricted data and the gallery deposit record separately.
The guides are currently searched and indexed in Spanish.
58 guides
How to tell whether an artwork is stolen before you buy it
Una factura, un certificado o la reputación del vendedor no bastan. Qué comprobar antes de comprar una obra: titularidad, procedencia, bases de obras robadas, contrato y señales de alerta.
Verified on 29 October 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- provenance
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Donating a work to a museum: offer, acceptance and tax relief
How to offer a work to a museum, how the decision to accept is made, what to agree upon in writing, how it is valued and what tax relief it provides.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
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Loaning a work to an exhibition: the loan agreement
What a loan agreement must include, the nature of a facility report, who bears the insurance costs and the implications for private collectors.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
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How to start an art collection
How to begin an art collection with a modest budget: where to purchase, which documents to retain from the first work and which errors to avoid.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
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Insuring a work of art: from home insurance to nail-to-nail coverage
Nail-to-nail insurance, agreed value and actual value, art policy exclusions, home insurance limits and the State Guarantee.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
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Importing and exporting works of art in Spain: permits and licences
Which artworks require a permit to leave Spain, when a European licence is necessary, and what the 2025 import regulation demands.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
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Authenticity, attribution, and forgery: a guide for collectors
Who may authenticate a work, the weight of committees, catalogues raisonnés and technical analyses, the value of a certificate, and how to proceed when suspicious.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- provenance
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Why a gallery asks you to identify yourself when purchasing an artwork
What obliges galleries and auction houses to identify their clients, what data they may request, and how long they retain it.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
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Buying art at auction: estimation, commission, and delivery
Understanding estimates, additional costs beyond the hammer price, VAT application and essential checks before bidding at an art auction.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
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Preparing for the succession of an art collection
How to prepare for the inheritance of an art collection: inventory, valuation, inheritance tax, distribution, payment in kind and lifetime gifting.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
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Corrections and contributions
If you find an error, outdated information or a better source, please write to me via the contact page. I correct confirmed errors and update the date of the affected guide.