Best Edition

The "best edition" is the edition published in the United States at any time before the date of deposit in the Copyright Office that the Library of Congress determines to be most suitable for its purposes. When two or more editions of the same version of a work have been published, the one of the highest quality is generally considered to be the best edition. In judging quality, the Library of Congress will adhere to the criteria set forth below in all but exceptional circumstances.

“Best Edition” of Published Copyrighted Musical Compositions:

  1. Printed Copies (rather than phonorecords)
    1. Fullness of Score
      1. Vocal music:
        1. With orchestral accompaniment
          1. Full score and parts, if any, rather than conductor's score and parts, if any. (Note: In cases of compositions published only by rental, lease, or lending, this requirement is reduced to full score only)
          2. Conductor's score and parts, if any, rather than condensed score and parts, if any. (Note: In cases of compositions published only by rental, lease, or lending, this requirement is reduced to conductor's score only.
        2. Unaccompanied: Open score (each part on separate staff) rather than closed score (all parts condensed to two staffs).
      2. Instrumental music:
        1. Full score and parts, if any, rather than conductor's score and parts, if any. (Note: In cases of compositions published only by rental, lease, or lending, this requirement is reduced to conductor's score only.
        2. Conductor's score and parts, if any, rather than condensed score and parts, if any. (Note: In cases of compositions published only by rental, lease, or lending, this requirement is reduced to conductor's score only.
    2. Printing and Paper
      1. Archival-quality rather than less-permanent paper.
    3. Binding and Packaging
      1. Special limited editions rather than trade editions.
      2. Bound rather than unbound.
      3. If editions have different binding, apply the criteria in I.A.2-1.A.12, in Circular 7b, Best Edition of Published Copyrighted Works for the Collections of the Library of Congress.
      4. With protective folders rather than without.
  2. Phonorecords
    1. Compact digital disk rather than a vinyl disk.
    2. Vinyl disk rather than tape.
    3. With special enclosures rather than without.
    4. Open-reel rather than cartridge.
    5. Cartridge rather than cassette.
    6. Quadrophonic rather than stereophonic.
    7. True stereophonic rather than monoaural.
    8. Monoaural rather than electronically rechanneled stereo.