If the gold comes off from just alcohol, than you can't do too much to save it. If you tape it, maybe the tape will get off some of the gold, but if you don't, than the letters on the spine will get scratched from honing, at least if you are not very careful when turning the razor on the end of strokes. I would tape it, if that removes the gold, than a few uses and wiping off water and lather will remove it anyway with time.
RAD never ends, as long as you live :)