The difference in the placement of the marcato indication does not seem to be accidental, since it is accompanied by changes to the L.H. part layout following in the same direction – separating the 1st quaver from the next octaves by changing the beams and by shifting the beginning of the con 8va indication to the 2nd octave. The L.H. semiquaver sequences naturally form two-bar sections separated by the movement being stopped on the quaver and by an octave leap. The above would support the version of the editions; however, it is difficult to say whether the changes were introduced at Chopin's request – e.g. the beaming at the beginning of the L.H. part was changed in the same way also in the tuttis after the first three variations, which rather points to the engraver's preference. (Incidentally, after the Theme of the Variations, it was Chopin himself who wrote down this detail in such a way.) In this situation, not being certain as to the authenticity of the version of GE (→FE,EE,FESB), we consider it an equal variant with respect to the main text, reproducing the notation of A.
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category imprint: Differences between sources
issues: GE revisions, Authentic corrections of GE
notation: Verbal indications