ABSTRACT
Copies of Chopin’s first editions were thought to be extremely rare until quite recently, but bibliographical research, particularly during the past 25 years, has encouraged a fundamental revision in our knowledge and understanding of these important sources. Although only a single copy of some prints has survived to this day, first editions of the vast majority of Chopin’s compositions can readily be found in the collections of European and American libraries. After their initial publication, modifications to the title-pages and/or the musical text were made to many first editions of Chopin’s music, as house editors—and in some cases the composer himself — took the opportunity to ‘improve’ an edition or to correct earlier errors. The Complete Collection was launched in June 1840, at the same time as the publication of the Waltz, op.42.
