Othello, Quarto 1 (British Library):
My first impression came from the beautiful drop text (or the big T) on the first page. In yearbook, ours were spot colored, while this was a work of art. Just by first glance, you can tell just how old this particular copy is. I will make a guess that the first word of the next page is in the low far right corner of the page before so that when someone is flipping pages, they know for sure which one comes next. At the time that these printers were printing the pages, they were each individual and had to be put together. Maybe the word wasn’t necessarily for the reader, but was for the people (or person) that put the book in order. Every name that is mentioned in this copy, whether in reference to them or if it the person talking, is italicized. The stage directions are centered on the page of this copy rather than being on the far right like they are in mine. The top of each page in this copy says “The Moore of Venice”.
Othello, First Folio (Brandeis University):
Each page is divided into two columns filled with script of the play. The drop text, again, is beautiful and to me adds a lot to the page. It is crazy how old this copy of the play is and has definitely gone through some wear and tear. Instead of an “Act I Scene II” the first folio says “Scena Secunda”. The language is different throughout the play as well. Instead of in my copy, there are many more words that I do not understand. Again, this copy has the first word of the next page on the previous page like before. At the top of each page, the play says “The Tragedie of Othello” (which is weird because tragedy is spelled wrong…)
“Heminge and Condell’s accusations were taken very seriously, and early scholars believed without question that the First Folio was the only authoritative Shakespearean manuscript, and that “all of the quartos were poor texts, dishonestly obtained without the consent of the company for which Shakespeare was writing” (Holzknecht 355). Thus, the quartos were relegated to the heap of pirated material.” -http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/shakespeareinprint.html
taylornoelle28 