There are over 500,000 items in the british museum photographic collection, divided among 16 departments. In 1984 a programme was begun to improve storage and handling according to modern archival standards. Perhaps the biggest problem is that of items badly mounted in the past (e. G. Albumen prints with aqueous adhesives, gelatine prints and dry mounting tissue, etc.). Mishaps in storage and handling have also caused damage. Early (1930s) colour plates are generally in a good condition, as most of the albums. Some do have brittle paper and it is necessary to remove the photographs (e.g. Roger fenton, 1854-6 british museum antiquities). Another album (views of peking, c. 1902) had a lacquered wood cover with inset gilded photograph on a laquered support; this needed consolidation with polyvinyl acetate emulsion. References.