How to unstick invasion flag from a photo?

[Jean-Loup]

I have a precious photo with a just as precious US invasion flag (worn on arm) stuck onto the back of it. The invasion flags are apparently made from some kind of ruberised material. Parts of it can be unstick easily, but for the rest, the invasion band is ripping paper off the back of the photo.

What would be the smartest way to get the invasion flag off the photo? Water vapor? Heat???

JL

[Paul R.]

Jean, If you can post a photo of the item for a better conservation evaluation. Paul

[Vid]

Hair dryer. Carefully. Not sure about steam, photo makes me nervous.

[Jean-Loup]

Here is a photo, you can see the stripes of the US flag on the part that is flipped by my fingers. I noticed that I didnt explain the situation very clearly with my first post.
The invasion flag was stored with photos, and with time became stuck face first to the back of one of the photos, as it is a kind of rubery material. I tried to gently pull it off. It started coming but then also started pulling paper off the back of the photo.
Putting it in warm water would probably unstick it in seconds, but that would ruin the photo, that is also precious, even more so then the arm band in fact.

[Vid]

Well, if you warm up the rear of the flag with a hair dryer it should not do any harm, not sure it will release. Steam I am afraid of and its kind of a bitch not burning your hand.

You could put a metal strainer over a boiling pot and hold it for a few and see if the flag drops.

[Paul R.]

With out the item in my hands the invasion flag is a oil cloth material. I would say a slight warming could work (from the rear). Like vid stated. You could also allow sun light could do the trick. If you soak the items in warm water it should seperate. The photo would no be ruined. The photo will wrinkle or curl. You can flaten to out with a weighted item. The glossy finsh on the photograph will also be removed. The gloss was added to the black and white print by an old fashioned hot drum dryer. Paul

[Jean-Loup]

I briefly tried the hair dryer, but that didnt seem to work. Sunlight migh work, I will have to try that.
So soaking the photo and then drying it under a weight should not cause any damage either then taking off the gloss?

JL

[WalterB]

Jean Loup:

BEFORE you do anything, I recommend that you obtain high quality reproductions of the picture. I don't know about Europe, but any photo developing center will be able to scan the picture and give you high quality copies. Once you do that, then I would proceed with the techniques that you have decided to use. Good luck!

[Jean-Loup]

Good advice Walter. I already scanned the photo in 1200 (huge and maximum with my scanner) resolution before doing anything.
I tried the hair dryer again. The ruberised cloth became very supple, but still didnt want to seperate from the photo... It looks like it doesnt want to come off. I will leave it alone for the moment.

JL

[Jean-Loup]

Guys, I ended up just using a blunt knife and gentleness. The result is that the flag came off, without any damage being inflicted to the front of the photo, though some paper got torn off the back.
What would be the best to take off the paper from the flag without causing any damage to the flag collors, or the inscriptions on the back of the flag?
I was thinking to start by putting a few drips of water on the parts of glued paper, or even simply soaking the whole thing in cold water. What do you guys think?

[WalterB]

I would dampen a paper towel and lay it on the flag for about an hour. Hopefully the paper on the flag will soften to the point that you can pick it off with your fingers. Nice flag!!

[Jean-Loup]

In the end I just diped my finger in water, and humidified the bits of paper with my finger; and once the paper was waterloged and soggy, I just "rolled" the remains off by rubbing with my finger. It worked perfectly, without damaging the flag.

JL

[Paul R.]

Great Success job JL Paul

[Jean-Loup]

What about the display of this thing. How sensitive do you guys think the colors are to light? If I put the flag in a glass case in a dark area of the room, do you think it should be OK?

JL

[Jonathan M]

Nice job there!