Thank you for all these links!

I now see that the 2008 DVD Trilogy that I just got was originally from 2006, when each film was sold separately.

The first link I looked at was from your last message, the link to GOUT.

Of course I had to compare the Definitive Collection laserdisc of "New Hope" to the 2006 GOUT. As the link explains it does seem to be true that the GOUT DVD is the same source material that was put on the laserdisc; the same transfer (except, of course, the opening text where "Episode IV - A New Hope" was removed). All of the film flaws seem to be the same- the same dirt or deterioration marks or nicks. I'm not sure exactly what to call them, but it mostly seems the same.

Except for one big mark on the DVD at 33:22. When Obi-Wan says "...your father's lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight" the shot changes then there is a big white blip on the very far right of the frame (and in the middle). This is not exactly on the laserdisc. On the laserdisc there is a vague mark in the same place but it almost completely unnoticeable. It looks more like a slightly discolored blip.

If the other links are as detailed as GOUT it will take me some time to thoroughly read them;-)