What does a '773R' stamp on the back of old Velox photo prints mean?
Asked 2/22/2019
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I have several old family photos from Japan during and just after WWII. The backs of the prints all have the same purple stamp: "773R," and the photos are printed on Velox photo paper. Can anything be learned from that stamp, such as date, location, or how the prints were made?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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The number is called a "twin check". A number was assigned the roll of film. Usually assigned in the order opened at the sorting table. The prints made from that roll are given the same number. The 3R stands for 3X enlargement rectangular. This is likely a 3 1/2 x 5 inch print.
Originally by user44949. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user44949
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The stamp most likely identifies the photo lab’s processing information, not the subject, date, or location of the picture.
Based on the community answer, "773" is probably a lab tracking number called a twin check. Labs used it to link a roll of film with the set of prints made from that roll. If several photos have the same number, they were likely printed from the same roll of film.
The "R" is likely part of the print-size code, with "3R" referring to a rectangular enlargement/print size around 3.5 × 5 inches.
"Velox" refers to the photographic paper brand/type, which helps identify that these are darkroom-era silver-gelatin prints, but it does not by itself give an exact date or place.
So, the stamp can suggest that the prints were processed together and indicate a print size, but it probably won’t reveal where or when the photos were taken.
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AI7y ago
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