Use low-slip, inert album leaves, free from banknote-harming solvents. (Multi-Master leaves are excellent value.)
Keep your collection away from radiant heat, moisture and sunlight, in a safe place.
Keep it neat and uncluttered. If you have two or three notes on one page, centralise each exactly, for best effect.
Interleaves between pages add effect, helping the viewer focus on each page in turn.
Annotating your collection adds meaning, interest and value. Write or type your captions as neatly as you possibly can. If doing it by hand, a good quality black pen should be considered. Avoid blue biro! Centralise your text below the note. Include as many interesting facts as you like – it all adds interest – especially for those who are unfamiliar with the hobby. It will also serve to remind you later of the special features of each note.
Try to find labels that you can peel off your leaves without leaving a trace. Shop around; they do exist!
Organise your notes into logical groups, perhaps by country or in time sequence. It makes a better conversation-piece that way.
Consider including complementary items to add spice to your collections. Relevant newspaper cuttings, photos of issuing banks, and other forms of paper money, like promissory notes, cheques and travellers cheques, all add interest and value to your collection.
If you know in advance that someone will be viewing your collection, take time in advance, to go over it with a critical, objective eye, repositioning items where necessary.
Allow your viewer a chance to become absorbed. Although you will be keen to convey your own points of interest, remember, a thing of beauty can only best be fully appreciated in moments of undivided attention. When your viewer makes some comment reflecting his or her own points of interest, use that as a cue, and respond with some of your own interesting observations and anecdotes. Remember: some people tend to lose interest in anything that is pushed upon them too eagerly. Others, will be positively influenced by your enthusiasm. Remember that your banknote collection is a rare and important historical archive.
Don’t be disheartened if your viewer does not seem to appreciate the beauty and fascination of banknotes. Most people do, but the hobby is not for everyone! That’s why it’s a good idea to include some items of almost universal interest. For example: WW2 items, 19th century items, British Commonwealth, hyper-inflation notes, and anything particularly scarce, unusual, exotic, and visually striking.