How do I start a meteorite collection?
Start small and well documented: buy a few inexpensive, officially classified specimens of different types from reputable sellers, learn about each one, and build from there.
A good first collection tells a story rather than chasing size. Many collectors begin with one example of each of the three broad families: a stony meteorite such as an ordinary chondrite, an iron such as a fragment of Campo del Cielo or a slice showing the crystal pattern of Muonionalusta, and, if budget allows later, a stony-iron such as a small slice of a pallasite. Add a tiny piece of a famous witnessed fall, and your shelf already spans much of the meteorite family tree.
Buy only meteorites with an approved official name, and check that name against the official record held by the Meteoritical Society. Reputable dealers state the name, classification and mass, and many belong to professional associations with codes of ethics. Be wary of unnamed "meteorites", prices that seem too good, and listings that rely heavily on a certificate rather than on a verifiable name. Joining a local astronomy or geology society, or visiting a museum collection, is a great way to see genuine material and learn what it looks like.
Keep records from day one. For each specimen note the name, type, mass, date of purchase and where it came from, and keep the label with the stone. Good provenance makes a collection more meaningful and easier to pass on. Store specimens dry, away from humidity, and handle irons with gloves or by the edges to avoid fingerprints that can encourage rust.
Above all, collect what fascinates you. Some people focus on falls from one country, others on carbonaceous chondrites, or on meteorites linked to a single parent body such as the asteroid Vesta. Learning the science behind each piece is half the pleasure. If children are involved, supervise handling, and never let anyone cut, heat, taste or use acid on a specimen.