Archival Evidence

''The Dial'' provides contrast between advertising and texts through its use of material resources. Advertising, which - as previously mentioned - was given premium placement at the beginning and end of the book, makes use of high quality, heavy, glossy paper. In contrast, the textual content within ''The Dial'' is printed on matte, medium-heaviness paper. Under examination of an original copy of ''The Dial,'' the advertising was in good condition but the rest of the publication required extra care in handling (including fibril gloves, book cradles, page-turning spatulas, and fabric-covered lead page weights). This in effect rendered the content, while still materially present, more difficult to access than the advertising, even within the same publication. ''The Criterion'' also required special handling; its matte paper had deteriorated more than ''The Dial.''  

The American editor italicized any usage of foreign language in the poem; however, ''The Criterion'' maintains a regular font for any European language utilized by Eliot. There is no explanation or admittance of these variances in the text. Additionally, within the epigraph in ''The Dial,'' the Greek quotes from the Sibyl are printed in the Greek alphabet rather than the Latin alphabet. Some modern publications, such as the one available at [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1321/1321-h/1321-h.htm Project Gutenberg,] publish the epigraph - while still in Latin and Greek languages - entirely in the Latin alphabet (i.e., "Sibylla ti theleis; respondebat illa: apothanein thelo"). In contrast, [http://www.bartleby.com/201/1.html Bartleby retains the mixture of Greek and Latin alphabets].