faded pencil text on back of old artwork

[Zefiro]

I hope someone can work wonders on this very faded text. It's written in pencil on a thin piece of paper glued to the back of thick cardboard. I hope this text can give some clues about what's glued to the front of this cardboard. I won't post the front because I think it might be something rare.

I scanned it at different settings, but the only thing that worked a bit was to scan it as a photo at high resolution. The text is 100% in French, because with the naked eye a few words are more or less readable. The text was written around 1915 to 1918.

Even if your wizardry doesn't improve the text, I would welcome any advice
a) to get a better photo of this text
or
b) to 'manipulate' this piece of paper to bring the pencil more to the foreground. (without damaging it of course)

[McGroger]

Had a go at revealing more from the image. I think the letters are a little easier to see but don't known that it's uncovered anything you don't already have. Perhaps if you overlay the 2 versions and keep swapping from one to the other you might be able to pick up a little more.
Hope others can help and take it further.
Peter

[Zefiro]

Thanks for trying.
The problem is that with the naked eye I can see a bit more than on my attempts to scan or photograph it.
Has anyone experience with using 'special' light to enhance faded text? UV light or some other?
Could slightly moisten the paper bring out the pencil, or would it do more harm?

[mckha489]

I once managed to read something by holding it at about 45 degrees to the scanner light on my printer.
Ie I set the scanner going, but didn’t shut the lid. Just stood there angling the item to get the light from the scanner onto it.  The only trouble is you about go blind in the process as you can only do a bit at a time owing to the scanner light moving across, and it is jolly bright!

[fiddlerslass]

Perhaps rescan using a yellow filter?