The indication dim. - - is written in A (→FC→GE) over the top stave. As in this context it must concern the L.H. too, we place it in a standard position, i.e. between the staves. In the main text we reproduce the range of the indication after the literal interpretation of A. The further range of diminuendo in FC is an inaccuracy that occurred at the stage of reproducing A, although the notation of A does not rule out that it could have actually been Chopin's intention. In the editions the dashes marking the range of the indication end in b. 17, which is an inaccuracy resulting most probably from a different division of the text into great staves – both in the manuscripts and the editions the indication was led to the last bar of the great stave, which is b. 18 in A and FC and b. 17 in the editions.
The minor shift of the starting point of the indication in GE was an arbitrary action of the engraver.
In EE the word diminuendo was divided into syllables, which was a frequent procedure in that edition. The crossings-out visible in A show that in this case Chopin considered such a notation to be wrong for some reason.
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category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information
issues: EE revisions, Inaccuracies in GE, Inaccuracies in FE, GE revisions, Inaccuracies in FC
notation: Verbal indications