EDITORIAL METHOD
lvii
If
neither the
original nor
a
photocopy
is
available,
we
base
our
text
on
a previ-
ously
transcribed
or
printed
version.
If
more
than
one
such version is
available,
we
select the
one
that
in
our
opinion agrees
most closely
with features characteristic
of
the author’s
style, orthography,
and
punctuation, departing
from the
text
only
to
correct
unambiguous typographical errors.
In the
case
of
published
items,
we
take the first version
published
in
the
original
language
as
our primary
text. Variations in later editions
of
Einstein’s
publications
that
were
prepared during
his lifetime
are
noted.
If
an
original manuscript
is avail-
able,
small differences
are
recorded in endnotes.
If
the
manuscript diverges
sub-
stantially
from the
printed version,
the
dissimilar
portions
of
the
manuscript
are
presented
as a separate
text,
preceding
the
printed
version. When
no manuscript,
typescript,
or
printed
version
in
the
original language
is
available,
a
published
translation
is used. An
English
translation,
authorized
by
Einstein
as
the first
pub-
lished
version,
is
printed
after
the German
text,
if
the latter
is
available.
Where
a
set
of
discussion
fragments
in Einstein’s hand
exists,
it will
serve as
the
source
of
a
text
rather than the
published
version
of
those remarks.
Significant
vari-
ations in all available texts will be noted.
PRESENTATION
Each
text is
given a
number
and
an English
title. A translation
of
the
original
title
is
used,
when such
a
title exists. Letters
are
titled
by
the
name
of
the
author
or recip-
ient
other than
Einstein,
whereas Einstein’s
name
is omitted when he is the author
or
recipient.
Published
writings are reproduced
in
facsimile;
all other material
included in
this edition is
newly typeset.
Texts in both series
are
ordered
chronologically.
Pub-
lished
papers are
dated
by
the date
of
completion,
if
known; otherwise, by
the date
of
submission,
reception,
or
publication.
If
a
temporal
span
is attributed to
a
docu-
ment,
the earlier
date determines
its
position
in
the volume.
An
undated text
enclosed
with
or
inserted in
another
text follows the
latter,
unless evidence
suggests
an
earlier
or
later
origin.
Editorial
comments
on
a
set
of
discussion
fragments,
which
together
comprise
a document,
are
set
in
a
smaller font size
to
distinguish
them
from
the text. The edi-
torial
comments
precede
the Einstein text and also
serve
to summarize the
content
of
a
paper,
lecture, address,
or
statement to which the Einstein
text
is
a response.
An
English running
head
and
a running page
number
appear
above the rule
on
every page
of
text. Numbers
indicating
editorial endnotes
are
presented
in
square