Theos-Talk Archives (January 2001 Message tt00094)

SUBJECT: Dallas on the current editions of THE SECRET DOCTRINE

Dallas wrote in part:

>The ULT edition is the only totally photographic and accurate
>reprint of the ORIGINAL 1888 edition.
>
>The current edition published by the T.S. in Pasadena is quite
>accurate to the original but includes some editorializations
>which are not all marked clearly. This can be ascertained by
>comparison with the original. Consequently some changes in
>emphasis from H.P.B.'s original occur.
>
>The S.D. published by the Adyar T.S. follows the changes that
>Annie Besant introduced in the 2nd Edition of 1893.

Unfortunately, what Dallas writes about the current edition published
by the T.S. in Pasadena [Theosophical University Press] is
in error. The current TUP edition is a photographic facsimile
of HPB's original 1888 edition.

I have no idea what Dallas is referring to when he writes about this
edition having "some editorializations which are not all marked clearly."
This edition has no changes whatsoever since it is a photographic
facsimile of HPB's original.

Also what edition is Dallas referring to when he writes about the Adyar
T.S. edition? There was the 6 volume edition edited by Josephine Ransom
and the later 3 volume edition edited by Boris de Zirkoff.

Daniel

-- Original Message --

>Dear Jim:
>
>It was because there had been so many printings of the ORIGINAL
>1888 edition of the S.D. in reset type and with editorial changes
>(not clearly defined) from that original that in 1925 the ULT
>published a photographic edition of the 1888 ORIGINAL S.D. --
>with no changes.
>
>All the changes made can be easily checked out with the original
>edition by editorial comparison.
>
>In many cases the "changes" are minor, but in some cases H.P.B.'s
>original meaning was altered. This was considered to be a
>disservice to students, hence the photographic reprint, and the
>continuing study of that ORIGINAL as she wrote and published it.
>
>The PUBLISHER'S INTRODUCTION to the ULT edition gives the history
>in detail of the publication and the changes.
>
>Modern students can take their pick.
>
>H.P.B. never edited or published a 3rd Volume of the S.D.
>Apparently Annie Besant found some unpublished MSS in her drawers
>and used them to prepare what is today called the "3rd VOLUME OF
>THE S.D. " Whether she edited H.P.B.'s MSS or not cannot now be
>ascertained, as those papers were apparently destroyed.
>
>I will now write this from memory and may be somewhat inaccurate:
>
>The ORIGINAL 1888 edition went out-of-print (but some individuals
>and libraries have copies of that).
>
>In 1893 (2 years after H.P.B.'s death) a 2nd Edition was issued
>with re-set type -- it is presumed the editorial changes (about
>40,000) -- were made by G. R. S. Meade (although he disowned
>responsibility and placed it on his co-editor Annie Besant) were
>made without H.P.B.'s authorization.
>
>Subsequently when this went out of print various editions have
>been issued by the TSes as you have noted.
>
>The ULT edition is the only totally photographic and accurate
>reprint of the ORIGINAL 1888 edition.
>
>The current edition published by the T.S. in Pasadena is quite
>accurate to the original but includes some editorializations
>which are not all marked clearly. This can be ascertained by
>comparison with the original. Consequently some changes in
>emphasis from H.P.B.'s original occur.
>
>The S.D. published by the Adyar T.S. follows the changes that
>Annie Besant introduced in the 2nd Edition of 1893.
>
>I believe that Mr. Daniel Caldwell has published a fine review of
>these facts and this will be found on: blavatsky.net The
>article is well worth being read and remembered
>
>Best wishes,
>
>Dallas




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Daniel H. Caldwell
info@blavatskyarchives.com
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