Why you should scan the back of a photo strip

Treat both sides as one item

Make a front-and-back pair in your object record. Place the reverse image beside its matching front before transcribing any inscription. Our comparison sheet has separate fields for visible writing, uncertain letters and later recollections, so a guess cannot quietly become part of the photograph.

Keep a simple file pair

Use a shared reference with front and back suffixes. Photograph the reverse in the same orientation as the front when possible, so readers can relate a note to the nearest frame. Transcribe handwriting in a separate text field. Mark uncertain letters rather than silently choosing the name you expected to find.

Do not rewrite the original

For your own modern strips, write contextual information on the enclosure or catalogue before deciding whether the print itself needs a mark. Conservation guidance stresses suitable handling and storage. A separate note is easier to correct and avoids adding pressure or ink to a photograph whose materials you may not know.

Evidence: Preservation guidance