An aqueous coating composition for applying a print retaining antistatic layer consisting essentially of an aluminum modified colloidal silica and an antistatic agent in a binder polymer, the binder polymer consisting essentially of an addition product of from about 30 to 78 mol % of an alkyl methacrylate wherein the alkyl group has from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, from about 2 to about 10 mol % of an alkali metal salt of an ethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acid and from 20 to about 65 mol % of a vinyl benzene, the polymer having a glass transition point of from 30.degree. to 65.degree. C.