[Grammar] This transcript is of a copy

[kadioguy]

This transcript is of a copy, made in an unknown hand, of the first draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which was written by George Mason.
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What does it mean by "This transcript is of a copy"? Why not just say "This transcript is a copy"?

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Another example:

La Circassienne au Bain by Merry-Joseph Blondel; the most highly valued item of cargo lost on the Titanic. This image is of a copy.
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(Source)
1.

2.

 

[emsr2d2]

It can't be omitted.

The transcript is a transcript of a copy, written by an unknown hand, ...

 

[kadioguy]

a. This image is of a copy.

b. This image is a copy.

Does (a) mean "This image is a copy, and it is from another copy"? Or does it simply mean the same as (b)?

Does (b) mean "This image is a copy, and it is from the original"?
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c. This transcript is of a copy.

d. This transcript is a copy.

Does (c) mean "This transcript is from a copy, rather than from the original"?

Does (d) mean "This transcript is from the original"?

 

[Tdol]

It's a copy of a copy.

 

[jutfrank]

Re: the four questions in post #3

1) Yes. No.
2) Yes.
3) Yes.
4) Yes.

In the original example, by using of, the writer is saying that he/she used the copy as the source material, not the primary document. The point really is that the copy was handwritten by an unknown person, not George Mason himself.

 

[kadioguy]

[...]
In the original example, by using of, the writer is saying that he/she used the copy as the source material, not the primary document. [...]

Does the "primary" here mean "not derived from, caused by, or based on anything else"?

Do you mean this way? "... he/she used the copy (not/rather than the primary document) as the source material."

 

[jutfrank]

Does the "primary" here mean "not derived from, caused by, or based on anything else"?

Basically, yes. 'Primary document' is a term that historians use to say 'original document'.

Do you mean this way? "... he/she used the copy (not/rather than the primary document) as the source material."

I mean the person who did the transcribing was using a copy, not the primary document.

 

[Tdol]

Check out exemplification for documents that have multiple primary copies.