1965 Beatles Autographs - Removing Peel and Stick Laminate

I have a set of Beatles autographs obtained in 1965 by my father. He worked for the U.S. Immigration Service and met them while they were en route to the Bahamas to film sequences for the movie Help. Authenticity is not an issue, but I have a problem. In an effort to protect the signatures, my sister (they were obtained for her but she recently gifted them to me) partially laminated them (peel and affix laminate). Does anyone know of a service that can remove this laminate without damaging the document. I've read about DIY fixes (hair dryer, iron etc.) but am leery of trying them. any Help would be appreciated (pun intended).

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on December 25, 2024 at 3:11pm

Of course. It was once suggested by the uninitiated to use gin to remove the over cover.

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Permalink Reply by Joseph Mongiello on December 25, 2024 at 3:19pm

I had one removed by a service (I do not have the name anymore) and they used a heat and chemical process that revealed a pristine Butcher Cover. That is what I am searching for, a similar service.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on December 25, 2024 at 3:22pm

This Butcher was peel and stick laminate covered?

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on December 25, 2024 at 3:25pm

Butcher covers were created in more than one way - so this restoration/removal comparison might not be apples and apples.

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Permalink Reply by Joseph Mongiello on December 25, 2024 at 3:34pm

Butcher covers were simply one paper cover glued on top of another one, I have a second state version) steamer trunk cover still affixed) and a two third state covers (Butcher cover revealed). Interestingly, the second state is more valuable (rarer).

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on December 25, 2024 at 3:39pm

I read that some had a white sheet pasted over the original image and some did not, before the new image was added. At any rate, I asked because you mentioned the removal - are you talking about the removal of the pasted cover or the removal of a peel and stick sheet of laminate?

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on December 25, 2024 at 10:27pm

Which is it?

Permalink Reply by JK on December 25, 2024 at 2:40pm

If it was a heat-sealed lamination then I'd agree that nothing can be done, but the OP mentioned "peel and affix laminate", which involves adhesive. It could be that there might still be no way to safely remove it, but there could possibly be options.

A friend's father carried around in his wallet an ID card that had a couple autographs on the back and had been laminated with that adhesive plastic, and after many years the plastic sheets just detached themselves pretty cleanly.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on December 25, 2024 at 2:43pm

That was likely due to the continual heat from being in his pocket drying out the adhesive over years

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on December 25, 2024 at 2:46pm

Are these peel and stick laminations - or encapsulations? That would be reversible.

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Permalink Reply by Joseph Mongiello on December 25, 2024 at 2:57pm

Peel and stick.

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Permalink Reply by eddy on December 25, 2024 at 3:33pm

Hi Joseph - In the past, I've had excellent professional paper restoration/conservation experiences with Jaime Mendez Restoration out of Oceanside, CA. It might be worth an inquiry to see if this is something they can assist with or at least give guidance on. I recommend their services very highly. Best in the business, imho.