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Zirkoff B. - Preface (BCW vol.1): Difference between revisions

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Unless otherwise stated, all writings have been copied ''verbatim et literatim'' direct from the original sources. In {{Page aside|x}}a very few cases, when such source was either unknown, or, if known, was entirely unprocurable, articles have been copied from other publications where they had been reprinted, apparently from original sources, many years ago.
Unless otherwise stated, all writings have been copied ''verbatim et literatim'' direct from the original sources. In {{Page aside|x}}a very few cases, when such source was either unknown, or, if known, was entirely unprocurable, articles have been copied from other publications where they had been reprinted, apparently from original sources, many years ago.


There has been no editing whatsoever of H. P. B.’s literary style, grammar or spelling. Obvious typographical errors, however, have been corrected throughout. Her own spelling of Sanskrit technical terms and proper names has been preserved. No attempt has been made to introduce any uniformity or consistency in these particulars. However, the correct systemic spelling of all Oriental technical terms and proper names, according to present-day scholastic standards, is used in the English translations of original French and Russian material, as well as in the Index wherein it appears within square brackets immediately following such terms or names.<ref>See explanatory Note on page 442</ref>
There has been no editing whatsoever of H. P. B.’s literary style, grammar or spelling. Obvious typographical errors, however, have been corrected throughout. Her own spelling of Sanskrit technical terms and proper names has been preserved. No attempt has been made to introduce any uniformity or consistency in these particulars. However, the correct systemic spelling of all Oriental technical terms and proper names, according to present-day scholastic standards, is used in the English translations of original French and Russian material, as well as in the Index wherein it appears within square brackets immediately following such terms or names.<ref>See explanatory Note on {{BCW-page|v=1|p=442|text=page 442}}.</ref>


A systematic effort has been made to verify the many quotations introduced by H. P. B. from various works, and all references have been carefully checked. In every case original sources have been consulted for this verification, and if any departures from the original text were found, these were corrected. Many of the writings quoted could be consulted only in such large Institutions as the British Museum of London, the Bibliothèque Nationale of Paris, the Library of Congress, Washington, D. C., and the Lenin State Library of Moscow. In some cases works quoted remained untraceable. No attempt was made to check quotations from current newspapers, as the transitory nature of the material used did not seem to justify the effort.
A systematic effort has been made to verify the many quotations introduced by H. P. B. from various works, and all references have been carefully checked. In every case original sources have been consulted for this verification, and if any departures from the original text were found, these were corrected. Many of the writings quoted could be consulted only in such large Institutions as the British Museum of London, the Bibliothèque Nationale of Paris, the Library of Congress, Washington, D. C., and the Lenin State Library of Moscow. In some cases works quoted remained untraceable. No attempt was made to check quotations from current newspapers, as the transitory nature of the material used did not seem to justify the effort.
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The majority of articles written by H. P. Blavatsky, for both magazines and newspapers, are signed by her, either with her own name or with one of her rather infrequent pseudonyms, such as Hadji Mora, Râddha-Bai, Sañjñâ, “Adversary,” and others.
The majority of articles written by H. P. Blavatsky, for both magazines and newspapers, are signed by her, either with her own name or with one of her rather infrequent pseudonyms, such as Hadji Mora, Râddha-Bai, Sañjñâ, “Adversary,” and others.


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{{Style P-Quote|“. . . Besides, bear in mind that these my letters are not written, but ''impressed'', or precipitated, and then all mistakes corrected....
{{Style P-Quote|“. . . Besides, bear in mind that these my letters are not written, but ''impressed'', or precipitated, and then all mistakes corrected....


“. . . I have to think it over, to photograph every word and sentence carefully in my brain, before it can be repeated by precipitation. As the fixing on chemically prepared surfaces of the images formed by the camera requires a previous arrangement within the focus of the object to be represented, for otherwise—as often found in bad photographs—the legs of the sitter might appear out of all proportion with the head, and so on—so we have to first arrange our sentences and impress every letter to appear on paper in our minds before it becomes fit to be read. For the present it is ''all'' I can tell you. When science will have learned more about the mystery of the lithophyl (or litho-biblion), and how the impress of leaves comes originally to take place on stones, then 1 will be able to make you better understand the process. But you must know and remember one thing—we but follow and servilely copy Nature in her works.”<ref>A. P. Sinnett. ''The Occult World'' (orig. ed. London: Trübner and Co., 1881), pp. 143-44. Also ''Mah. Ltrs''., No VI, with small variations.</ref>}}
“. . . I have to think it over, to photograph every word and sentence carefully in my brain, before it can be repeated by precipitation. As the fixing on chemically prepared surfaces of the images formed by the camera requires a previous arrangement within the focus of the object to be represented, for otherwise—as often found in bad photographs—the legs of the sitter might appear out of all proportion with the head, and so on—so we have to first arrange our sentences and impress every letter to appear on paper in our minds before it becomes fit to be read. For the present it is ''all'' I can tell you. When science will have learned more about the mystery of the lithophyl (or litho-biblion), and how the impress of leaves comes originally to take place on stones, then I will be able to make you better understand the process. But you must know and remember one thing—we but follow and servilely copy Nature in her works.”<ref>A. P. Sinnett. ''The Occult World'' (orig. ed. London: Trübner and Co., 1881), pp. 143-44. Also ''Mah. Ltrs''., No VI, with small variations.</ref>}}


In an article entitled “Precipitation”, H. P. B., referring directly to the passage quoted above, writes as follows:
In an article entitled “Precipitation”, H. P. B., referring directly to the passage quoted above, writes as follows:
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Other individuals from time to time have contributed in various ways to the success of this literary work. To all of these a debt of appreciation is due, even if their names are not individually mentioned.
Other individuals from time to time have contributed in various ways to the success of this literary work. To all of these a debt of appreciation is due, even if their names are not individually mentioned.


{{Style P-Signature|Boris de Zirkoff.
{{Style P-Signature in capitals|Boris de Zirkoff.}}
''Compiler''.}}
{{Style P-Signature|Compiler.}}


{{Style P-No indent|Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.}}
{{Style P-No indent|{{Style S-Small capitals|Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.}}}}
{{Style P-No indent|September 8th, 1950.}}
{{Style P-No indent|September 8th, 1950.}}
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{{HPB-CW-comment| [Beginning with Volume VII, the publication of the ''Collected Writings'' was taken over by The Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, Madras, India, at the suggestion of our esteemed Brother and Friend. N. Sri Ram, President of The Theosophical Society, Adyar.]}}
{{HPB-CW-comment|[Beginning with Volume VII, the publication of the ''Collected Writings'' was taken over by The Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, Madras, India, at the suggestion of our esteemed Brother and Friend. N. Sri Ram, President of The Theosophical Society, Adyar.]}}


{{Footnotes}}
{{Footnotes}}
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