Subject: [gutvol-d] newbie question: copyright editions of public domain works
From: Greg Smith <[email-masked]>
To: Project Gutenberg Volunteer Discussion <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2005 20:32:11 -0400

I inherited from my grandfather 25 years ago 4 collections from his
library.  He was a Baptist minister (read poor).

The first collection is the 11th edition of the Encyclopedia Brittanica
published 1910-1911.  The other three collections are editions of works
that were public domain at the time of the edition (eg `Best Known
Works: Defoe').  The copyright dates range from the mid teens to the
early forties.

But what are these copyrights copyrighting?  I can understand editor
comments, translations, pictures, etc.  But what if spelling/grammar was
modernized?  Or, portions cut or moved?  Would these books (~120
volumes) be of any use?

Apologies for my ignorance,

Greg Smith