One project – two editions. The digital edition of Łobodowski’s notebooks and the printed edition

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyse the parallel digital and traditional editions of Józef Łobodowski’s notebooks. The author focuses on comparing the methods of textual preparation, the scope of modernization, the nature of commentary (where present), and the tools employed. Particularly important for the analysis is the question, posed at the outset, concerning the intended readership of both editions. As a contextual framework, the article refers to similar projects – Archiwum Filomatów [Philomath Archive], the digital edition of Samuel Zborowski, as well as the edition of letters by Jan Lechoń, Kazimierz Wierzyński, and Mieczysław Grydzewski.

The traditional edition is distinguished by its extensive critical apparatus and by supplementary articles. Although the accompanying texts repeatedly highlight the research potential of this material, especially in the context of genetic criticism, this aspect is not fully developed. In contrast, the digital edition, based on the TEI standard, offers broader possibilities for analysis, particularly in the field of textual genetics.

The draft-like nature of Łobodowski’s notebooks and the numerous revisions they contain require a specialized editorial approach, which is more fully realized in digital form. However, the analysis indicates that the digital edition of the notebooks does not fully exploit the potential of this medium. The article emphasizes the importance of the parallel functioning of digital and traditional editions, highlighting their complementarity and their crucial role in future research.