I double-checked the splices but this time on Moth3r's 35mm telecine bootleg, which actually is framed more or less theatrically correct in terms of vertical info (here it shows slightly too much at the bottom of the frame).

Top: 35mm telecine Middle: JSC LD Bottom: SWE LD (Technidisc)

And as you can see even the minor glue marks like this one in the JSC-print is absent in the 35mm.

As to the damage in the opening shot of the Tantive corridor. If what I've heard is correct, even the IB-Tech prints have those artifacts and those prints didn't go through the intermediate steps of regular Eastman prints. It means that they have to be on the negative and not something that originated on either the interpositives or internegatives, IB-Tech prints was made from the color separation masters.