Removing wax linings

Has anyone had experience removing old linings applied with wax? I
am working on a 25" x 36", 1884 poster in extremely fragile
condition (yellowed, embrittled, badly fragmented along 48 folded
sections). The verso had been lined with a gauze-like material
impregnated with what appears to be paraffin wax (white and
brittle). I have tried heat (melts wax, but darkens paper), organic
solvents (petroleum spirit, chlorinated hydrocarbons and some
aliphatic/aromatic hydrocarbons). None of them worked. Any
suggestions?

Karen Lenk
Preservation and Digitization
Toronto Reference Library


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:43
                Distributed: Wednesday, February 9, 2000
                       Message Id: cdl-13-43-013
                                  ***