The fair copy seems to have been lost in the course of the printing. Of what?

ArlingtonVA

A "fair copy" is a "corrected version of a document: an unmarked version of a document that has been corrected and retyped or printed out again." http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861690022/fair_copy.html Jul 04 09, 1:47 PM

daBomb619

I think the question is asking about the fair copy of a specific work, not for the definition of "fair copy". Jul 04 09, 1:54 PM

ArlingtonVA

Ah, thanks. Well one possibility is it refers to problems with cello sonatas by Beethoven: "Ever since the Henle edition of the five Beethoven cello sonatas came out in 1971...the cello world has speculated and been occasionally bewildered about the accuracy of the texts of the sonatas, especially the A Major sonata....The sonata was first published by B&H in April, 1809. Later that year Beethoven noticed typos and publisher's errors in it (which will be discussed in more detail below). We know that this autograph is not what was sent to B&H for them to use in making their engravings for printing. For that purpose, what is called a "fair copy" was prepared. It was not written by Beethoven but by a paid copyist, and therein lies some of the sources of the problem as we shall soon see. (Usually the "fair copy" is quite clean and neat, containing few, if any, last-minute changes or emendations inserted by the composer. This is true for many composers, not just Beethoven.) Unfortunately, the "fair copy" is lost: no one has seen it for more than 100 years." http://www.cello.org/Newsletter/Articles/beetham/beetham1.htm Jul 04 09, 2:07 PM

queproblema

Very interesting, but the specific work I'm after isn't musical. Jul 04 09, 4:56 PM

ArlingtonVA

Declaration of Independence? "Declaration of Independence, 29. It is believed that Secretary Charles Thomson may have sent Jefferson's fair copy to Dunlap's shop on July 4, where it was lost or destroyed. For a complete discussion of this argument consult Boyd, "The Declaration of Independence: The Mystery of the Lost Original," 438-467." http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/dube/inde17.htm 1 vote. Jul 04 09, 5:05 PM

Arpeggionist

The first movement of Brahms' first symphony, and perhaps every word penned by William Shakespeare, would also fit the bill. Jul 04 09, 7:39 PM

queproblema

Arlington, Darlington, you're a Yankee Doodle Dandy! My hints to make this bit of trivia specific were today's date and "in the course." ("When in the course of human events....") http://www.friendsacrossamerica.com/declaration.html Jul 04 09, 9:13 PM