I recently got my hands on some AD&D books and an OD&D booklet that had a bunch of rubdown transfers on the cover page on the inside, so I had to figure out how to remove the transfers. Turns out it isn't too hard to do without further harming the book since the transfers were probably quite old.

Tools: A business card and a dull exacto knife. I suppose a flat razor blade would probably also work quite well.

First I took the edge of the business card and lightly rubbed it on the sides of the transfers to find out if any of the edges are lifting. If there is an edge that lifting, lightly get the edge of the card under it and start working your way toward the middle lifting each side of the edge little by little. A couple of the transfers came right up with no residue. If the edge started tearing, back the card out and use the exacto knife to carefully lift the sticking edge. I used a dull blade so that I would be much less likely to make an accidental cut. Once the sticking edge is lifted go back to using the business card. (Any sort of thin card stock should work just as well.) Once a majority of the transfer is lifted, I go back with the dull exacto blade and carefully lift the remaining bits. Tada! No more transfer. All that is left is a slightly darker patch that looks a bit shiny when the light hits it just so. I think that is because of the transfer burnishing process and a bit of the "glue" they use to keep it stuck to the page.

So you're the one who got the 3rd print woody?

Have you tried something like goo gone to remove the residue, or is more a stain left over.  I have a Fiend Folio or Monster Manual with these on there - though I don't think I'll remove them, but this is good information if I decide to.

ShaneG.

Well done, lad!