I have quite a lovely 1935 Canadian Bank of Commerce $10. Unfortunately it has what I believe is shellac or some other sort of organic adhesive on the back. I believe this is worth upwards of $100, so definitely worth a conservation effort. What are my options to remove the adhesive without damaging the paper or the ink?
It is certainly not something I would try to do myself. I would send it in for conservation if they say they believe they could remove it. I've heard of individuals that have used a Q-tip with a light amount of acetone, but like I said, I wouldn't try it myself.
Give Nancy a call and ask for advice. She’s simply the best and very accommodating. http://www.polirestoration.com/
Don't use a Goof Off. That stuff will probably remove the original government ink on the bill. I would not attempt anything like this myself. I would make inquiries from professionals for this type of restoration.
Thanks for the advice! Since the residue does not seem to be causing long-lasting impacts, I might just leave it on for now. I'm not sure if paying for a conservation is worth the investment, considering the relatively low value of the note. I might try using mild mechanical means to remove the bulk of it, and then just leave it alone from there.
