I did a quick search on line and it seems unlikely. There could be asbestos in some vinyl wall papers, but if it is in the adhesive, which it may not be, the risk would be low. You can get it tested to be on the safe side though.

The asbestos impregnated adhesive us known as "cutback" and is seldom, if ever used for wallpaper.

Could it be that you are looking at red wall paint?

I have removed a lot of wallpaper from some old and very old houses. Ithink that the red stuff you are showing isn't the glue. It is the paper from the back of the old wallpaper which is practically disintegrated and is sitting of the glue.

I have removed a lot of wallpaper from some old and very old houses. Ithink that the red stuff you are showing isn't the glue. It is the paper from the back of the old wallpaper which is practically disintegrated and is sitting of the glue.

I think you have uncovered the liner paper that was under the first layer of patterned wallpaper. It was often not acid free and over the years turns a brownish reddish "old paper" color.

Wallpaper was usually installed with wheat paste until vinyl glues were developed.

I have removed a lot of wallpaper from some old and very old houses. Ithink that the red stuff you are showing isn't the glue. It is the paper from the back of the old wallpaper which is practically disintegrated and is sitting of the glue.