Misprints and urban myths

[John Dunn]

I wonder if the learned readership of this list can help me with the following query.  While I was a stazher at MGU in 1974, there were elections to the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR (I think). A few days afterwards a story began circulating to the effect that Komsomol'skaja pravda had misprinted the results by transposing the figures for the 'for' and the 'against' votes.  Because the source for the story was always the proverbial 'friend of a friend' and because of its inherent improbability, I assumed it was an urban myth, and a subsequent search of the relevant back numbers of KP duly failed to provide any confirmation.  What I would like to know is whether anyone can confirm my assumpton and whether anyone has heard the same story or similar stories relating to other elections.  I would also be very grateful for any other stories about Soviet-era misprints (other than Stalin- Sralin); please feel free to send me them off-list.

John Dunn.
John Dunn
SMLC (Slavonic Studies)
University of Glasgow
Hetheringon Building
Bute Gardens
Glasgow G12 8RS
U.K.

Tel.: +44 (0)141 330 5591
Fax: +44 (0)141 330 2297
e-mail: J.Dunn at slavonic.arts.gla.ac.uk

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------