# Codes on the back of photos

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codes-on-the-back-of-photos/665693>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 8, 2013, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codes-on-the-back-of-photos/665693 "2013-08-08T12:01:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![alexandriaquartet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@alexandriaquartet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandriaquartet)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codes-on-the-back-of-photos/665693/1 "2013-08-08T12:01:46Z")

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Is there a date in the code on the back of a photo? For example: What would the date (if any) be in the code: EL 25 MGh RL RHFFN BVvh AIn PA Wolf 02.11.13 804.979L 1\>289 001 40 \*\*-1 NN-22

Can anyone help me interpret this?

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codes-on-the-back-of-photos/665693/2 "2013-08-08T12:18:17Z")

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[Here’s a thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=478815) from a few years ago.

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**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codes-on-the-back-of-photos/665693/3 "2013-08-08T17:38:44Z")

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> [@alexandriaquartet](#):
>
> Is there a date in the code on the back of a photo? For example: What would the date (if any) be in the code: EL 25 MGh RL RHFFN BVvh AIn PA Wolf \*\*02.11.13 \*\*804.979L 1\>289 001 40 \*\*-1 NN-22
> 
> Can anyone help me interpret this?

That part sure looks like a date in MM.DD.YY format.

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**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/codes-on-the-back-of-photos/665693/4 "2013-08-08T18:25:02Z")

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EL 25 MGh RL RHFFN BVvh AIn PA Wolf 02.11.13 804.979L 1\>289 001 40 \*\ ***-1 NN-22**

The bolded is the color correction that the lab used.

It was probably done in Allentown, PA.

The “289 001 40” is probably the batch and frame number.