A coated ink jet paper with (1) a cellulosic substrate, (2) a first ink receiving coating on the front side of the substrate capable of absorbing an ink vehicle, and which receiving layer coating is comprised of (a) a hydrophilic binder polymer, (b) an ink wetting/ink spreading agent, (c) a dye mordant, (d) a lightfastness agent, (e) a filler, (f) a biocide; and (3) a second traction controlling coating in contact with the reverse side of the substrate, and which coating is comprised of a polymer with a glass transition temperature of from between about a negative -50.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C., a lightfastness agent, an antistatic agent, a pigment, and a biocide. The cellulosic substrate can be comprised of alkaline sized and acid sized blends of hardwood kraft and softwood kraft fibers, which blends contain from about 20 percent to 80 percent by weight of softwood and from about 80 to about 20 percent by weight of hardwood. The sizing value of the cellulosic substrate varies between 50 seconds to 500 seconds, the porosity varies from 100 to 600 mil/minute, and the thickness varies between 50 microns to 250 microns.