Remove only a layer(s) of paint

[oPaulz]

Hi all. I feel I was lucky to find, at a garage sale, a nice "shoeshine" (?) wooden box. This was painted black (spirits based I'm guessing) and had a fair amount of wear. I have now found underneath the black some signs of gold lettering and with closer inspection can just make out the outline of some of the lettering which identifies it as ex military from a base near my birth town.

My question is, how best to try to remove the black paint that is obscuring the beauty of a well made box and, if possible, preserve the lettering underneath.

I am now living in Australia if that helps with product suggestions.

Thank you.