damaged foreign banknotes

I am considering buying some foreign banknotes that someone had taped into something? It is the old style scotch tape that is dried out and easily removed. The downside is that there is tape stains. I cant imagine these stains are removable and I'm sure that cleaning notes is frowned on like cleaning coins. What are your thoughts on what the stains do to the value of the notes? I know in the stamp collecting world that once a better copy is found, a stamp with tape stains usually ends up in the trash. What about banknotes? Any of your thoughts or suggestions will be greatly welcomed.

Blue-M

Damaged doesn't always mean worthless. It all depends on the scarcity of the note.
If it's something you like, but can't afford or find a better example of, go for it! It gives you something to look at and a goal all at the same time.

Also, just think of this: If you were willing to buy them in this condition, there's probably someone else that will too! :)

There really aren't ways of cleaning banknotes w/o destroying them?

Verweis : "CassTaylor"​There really aren't ways of cleaning banknotes w/o destroying them?

Ah yeah, forgot I was gonna comment on that bit too. I'm sure there are ways to do it, but I can't imagine it's something the average collector would be able to do well. I know you can iron them to make them flat and crisp (stick the note between two sheets of a paper bag) but that's all I've ever done.​

Tape stains are a big nemesis to banknotes! I am not sure if you can conserve them, but its worth a shot only if they are valuable. I would send them to a professional, like PCGS/PMG, for conservation.

Just because a note is damaged, that doesn't make them invaluable. There are some notes that are ripped to shreds, with several pieces that are missing, taped up and are still worth a pretty penny. I have a such note, in my collection, that somewhat fits the bill. It has been graded by PCGS as VF-30, but it has tape stains, holes and is a bit dirty, but valuable nonetheless:

Raleigh, Confederate State of North Carolina: $100 Jan. 4, 1862 (Criswell 74-2)




Here is some catalog values for this note, taken with a grain of salt, of course:

I appreciate the input so far. As the notes that I am considering buying have only two small squares of stain area I think it might be worth while to get them and then maybe pass them on to other collectors once a better note has been obtained.

Out of curiosity, what notes are they?

The ones that I'm most interested in which someone also wrote the pick numbers on in ink are CGU's from China. I think most of the denominations from 1 to 20,000 were there including some of the different printers among the denominations.

If you want to do some banknote trading let me know.