Cleaning lithograph prints.

[OTEM]

Hi, hopefully this is the correct place for this question.
Basically, I have bought a limited edition lithograph print, it is numbered in pencil but the graphite has been terribly smudged by someone elses fingers. Does anybody know a technique that will remove these marks? I have tried an eraser but it barely makes a noticable difference. I haven't had experience with this type of print before, I thought that this would be the perfect place to ask - as I am sure a lot of you have used this printing technique before.

Thanks in advance.

[PrintDriver]

It's not the printing part. It's the cleaning part. Is it worth it to you to ask a Conservator at a local art museum?

[Tea]

That's what you should do especially if it's a hand pulled lithograph. Are you sure it's not ink?

[OTEM]

Probably not PrintDriver, as it wasn't all that expensive. It is a modern print and is relatively small. I am not 100% sure of the process used (although I do understand the basics) - but I would assume that it is ink. The stock used is very heavy, so I am tempted to try a damp cloth - afterall, the smudges are nowhere near the image.
Thanks for your replies.

[Drawing a Blank]

You have gotten some good advice so far and it has been years since I have hand pulled a lithograph, but I know that you do not want to put water on that paper. It could leave an ugly stain and it will not take off proper lithography ink.

Since you said you already tried erasing the smudges and that did not work I would assume they are probably ink. You could try Bestine (not sure I'm spelling that correctly), but I would try it on a sample piece of paper first to see if it will dry without staining. We actually used baby oil to clean up inks in the studio, but that would ruin the paper. You could try and get a different print from the vendor if the smudge really bothers you (they probably shouldn't have sold it to begin with) or you could live with it. Are you going to have it framed? Could the smudge be hidden with mats?