Oops Sorry Nancy, that just came out being a common word used around here for "ball point pens" as others have explained. Do make sure you are storing your photos in archival safe photo albums that use page protectors made of polypropylene. The protectors protect the photos was finger prints, dust, spillages and the like. The albums need to be lignin free (natural substance in wood that turns paper yellow), acid free (most paper contains acid) and buffered to prevent migration of acid through the pages if adding memorabilia to your album, eg theatre tickets, newspaper cuttings etc. Also write your memories down with your photos. Obviously if they are old historic ones, you may not know the Who, When, Where, What and Why, but at least write these details down with your current photos as one day they will be historic too. Cheers Jenny Geraldton WA > Excuse my ignorance......but what is 'biro'? Hope to get at a ton of photos > marked if I get some spare time??? > > Thanks, > > Nancy Sutherland Greig..... In a finally hot and sunny Ontario! >