First UK print (Dec 1977).  Featuring completely different artwork from its US counterpart, this rulebook was released contemporaneously with the First print US version.  It features cover art by John Blanche and interior illos by Fangorn, which have a much darker, almost gothic quality that was something of a novelty in 1977 (and check out the troglodytes illustration on page 45... certainly more risqué than anything found in B3 Palace of the Silver Princess!).  Aside from the artwork, the text of the rulebook is identical to the U.S. version, right down to U.S. spellings.  We're not sure which print actually came first (this or the Second print below), as both rulebook prints differ only in the color of the back of the rulebook and the writing color on the front.  Also note that only the Basic Rulebook was released with this print, not the set.

• Dark blue cover with a blue-and-silver picture of a dragon in combat with two adventurers (artwork by John Blanche).  Overall cover is described as shiny and glossy
• 46 pages with a pull-out sheet in the back (quick-reference tables?)
• Games Workshop Mickey Mouse logo on the cover and first page
• Lizard logo on first page, next to the Mickey Mouse logo
• "*TM REG. APP. FOR" by-line next to the title on the front cover
• Unknown if the Wandering Monster table (pg 10?) has monsters that aren't in the rulebook (see the First-print US version), or if this has been corrected
• Writing on the bottom of the front cover is in red
• Back of rulebook is dark blue
• Thanks to John Huckerby, Malcolm Lawrenson, and Bruce Robertson for help with this info, and to Bruce Robertson for the scan

Auction History:  VG: $113 (3/02), VG: $198 (9/02), FN: $67 (10/02), FN: $102 (2/03),
  FN:  $122 (7/04)

Second UK print (Dec 1977).  Most probably, released contemporaneously with the Second US print.  We're not sure which print actually came first (this or the First print above), as both rulebook prints differ only in the color of the back of the rulebook and the writing color on the front.  Also note that only the Basic Rulebook was released with this print, not the set.

• Dark blue cover with a blue-and-silver picture of a dragon in combat with two adventurers (artwork by John Blanche).  Overall cover is described as dull and hazy
• 46 pages with a pull-out sheet in the back (quick-reference tables?)
• Games Workshop Mickey Mouse logo on the cover and first page
• Lizard logo on first page, next to the Mickey Mouse logo
• "*TM REG. APP. FOR" by-line next to the title on the front cover
• Unknown if the Wandering Monster table (pg 10?) has monsters that aren't in the rulebook (see the First-print US version), or if this has been corrected
• Writing on the bottom of the front cover is in silver
• Back of rulebook is silver
• Thanks to John Huckerby, Malcolm Lawrenson, and Bruce Robertson for help with this info, and to Richard Scott for the scan

Auction History:  FN: $120 (12/03), VF: $103 (8/03)

Third UK print (Nov 1978).  Most closely matches the Fourth print US version, with some differences:

• Blue box with a picture of a red dragon (artwork by Sutherland).  Box sides are in solid black, not blue (continuation of the cover artwork) like the US version
• Lizard logo in lower left, "Games Workshop" in yellow script on box side
• Code in the upper right is "1001"
• Angled yellow banner in upper left says "Basic Set With Introductory Module"
• 48-page rulebook:  Lizard logo in lower left,  with "F116-R" in upper right and "*T.M. Reg. App. For" under the D&D logo; contains references to Hobbits (see bottom of page 11).  The copyright page states "Second Edition, Nov 1978", and has both the Lizard logo and Games Workshop logo at the bottom of the page.  Back-cover catalog does not have prices.
• B1 In Search of the Unknown (UK print, no shrinkwrap)
• Five pre-colored dice in a small poly bag (no D10 or dice crayon)
• Bottom of box shows rulebook, module B1 (US pre-production print), five dice, and has the Games Workshop logo
• Thanks to Michael Deaton and Paul MacLean for this info

Auction History:  VG: $89 (3/03), FN: $112 (10/03)

Fourth UK print (1978?).  Most closely matches the Fourth print US version, with some differences:

• Blue box with a picture of a red dragon (artwork by Sutherland).  Box sides are in solid black, not blue (continuation of the cover artwork) like the US version
• Lizard logo in lower left, "Games Workshop" in yellow script on box side
• Code in the upper right is "1001"
• Angled yellow banner in upper left says "Basic Set With Introductory Module"
• 48-page rulebook:  Lizard logo in lower left,  with "F116-R" in upper right and "*T.M. Reg. App. For" under the D&D logo. References to Hobbits (see bottom of page 11) now changed to Halflings.  The copyright page states "Second Edition, Nov 1978", and has both the Lizard logo and Games Workshop logo at the bottom of the page.  Back-cover catalog is slightly expanded, and has prices in pounds sterling.
• B1 In Search of the Unknown (UK print, no shrinkwrap)
• Five pre-colored dice in a small poly bag (no D10 or dice crayon)
• White Dwarf magazine subscription form
• Bottom of box shows the US-version box (!), rulebook, module B1 (US pre-production print), five dice, and has the Games Workshop logo
• Thanks to Scott Cordiner, Michael Deaton, and Neville Ridley-Smith for this info

Auction History:  FN: $77 (10/04)

Fifth UK print (1986).  Same artwork as the Twelfth print US version, but consists of a single digest-sized booklet, 272 pages in length (roughly the size of a paperback novel).  Published by TSR UK, but actually printed by Garden City Press.  Content is nearly identical to the Twelfth print US version, with the Players Manual and DM's Manual compiled into the one booklet (although it does feature British spellings, and the fonts and layouts have been described as more professionally-rendered).  Interior artwork is different from the US version.  A section has been added to the beginning (pg 6), entitled "How to Use this Book", which mentions all the D&D Sets, from Basic to Immortal.  An added section to the end ("What Now") describes the differences between the B-series, X-series, and B/X module, as well as the D&D Expert Set and the AD&D system.  Has the phrase "not for sale in Canada or the USA" on the back.  (Thanks to Adrian Newman, Ciro Alessandro Sacco, Rhea Shelley, and Jean-Philippe Suter for this info, and to Rhea Shelley for the scan).

Auction History:  VF: $19 (8/03), VF: $56 (12/03)

First Australian print.  Identical to the Fourth print US Basic Rulebook, with the exception that the cover is printed in blue and black only, instead of the blue, white, and black colors used on the cover of the US version.  (Thanks to John Huckerby for this info, and the scan).

Auction History:  VF: $236 (4/06)
 

A looseleaf sheet (depicted at right) was recently acquired in an auction of the Australian rulebook.  It's possible this was a "cover" sheet which was bundled with the rulebook, probably under shrinkwrap (similar to the Dungeon Module Pack).  It features the artwork from the first page of the rulebook.  (Thanks to Michael Deaton for the scan).

Rulebook

Cover sheet?

Second Australian print.  Identical to the Thirteenth print US version, with the exception of "Australian Edition" on the right front of the box, back of box states "Printed in Australia", and the listing of released modules on the back shows B1, B2, B3, and B5.  (Thanks to Michael Deaton for this info, and to Jesse Walker for the scan).

Third Australian print.  Identical to the Thirteenth print US version, with the exception of "Australian Edition" on the right front of the box, back of box states "Printed in Australia under license by the Jedko Games Co. Pty. Ltd", and the listing of released modules on the back shows B1-9, B10, B11, and B12.  (Thanks to Jesse Walker for this info and the scan).

Bundled with the Finnish B3 Palace of the Silver Princess and B6 Veiled Society (both modules combined into one book).  Otherwise identical to the US version. (Thanks to Mika Sutinen for this info, and to Nicolas Delzenne for the scan).

First French print (Nov 1982).  Although copyrighted Nov 1982, this version was released in France in the spring of 1983, and (initially) without a box, due to supply problems.  It carries the distinction of the first D&D item translated into any foreign language.  Bears the Erol Otus cover artwork (from the Eighth - Eleventh US version) and has the TSR Face logo.  Has "Niveau Debutant" in the upper left.  Apparently, much of the interior artwork is different from any other version of the Basic Rulebook (US or foreign).  Contains a First print of module B2 Keep on the Borderlands.  Further differences unknown.  (Thanks to Christophe Crevaux, Slaheddine Kefi, and Ciro Alessandro Sacco for help with this info, and to Slaheddine Kefi for the scan).

Second French print (Nov 1982).  While we're calling this the Second print, actually this print and the print above both state "First Print - Nov 1982" on the copyright page.  This print was released only slightly after the First print above, and all copies came with a box.  Bears the Erol Otus artwork, has "Niveau Debutant" in the upper left of the box cover (though the rulebook is missing this), and has the Angled TSR logo.  Contains a Second print of module B2 Keep on the Borderlands.  Further differences unknown.  (Thanks to Christophe Crevaux, Géraud, and Slaheddine Kefi for help with this info, to Géraud for the scan of the box cover, and to Dominique Lacrouts for the scan of the rulebook).

Box cover

Rulebook

Third French print (1985).  Printed by TSR UK.  Appears to mirror the Twelfth print US version; further differences unknown.  (Thanks to Slaheddine Kefi for the scan).

Identical to the Twelfth print US version.  Thanks to Stefan Beate for the scan.

Identical to the Twelfth print US version.  (Thanks to Raphael Wong for this info).

First print.  Cover matches the Twelfth print US version (unknown if the orange color is original or a scanning error).  Thanks to Or Lev for the scan.

Second print.  Cover matches the Fourteenth print US version.  Thanks to Or Lev for the scan.

Identical to the Twelfth print US version.  (Thanks to Ciro Alessandro Sacco and Danilo Moretti for this info, and the scan).

Similar to the Fourteenth print US version.  Contains the Basic Rulebook ("Regolamento"), 48 Introduction cards in a container (to learn the rules step-by-step), map of Zanzer's Dungeon, 48 3-D cardboard game pieces, 1 DM's Screen, and a set of six dice.  The Instruction Sheets also now have a folio of their own, and the Basic Rulebook is described as having better graphics and more-readable fonts.  (Thanks to Emanuele Pallozzi for this info, and to Ciro Alessandro Sacco and Danilo Moretti for the scan -- scan is of the entire set).

Features radically different cover art (anime-style) from the U.S. Eighth print, which we believe it otherwise mirrors.  (Thanks to Adrian Newman for the scan).

Appears identical to the Thirteenth print US version.  (Thanks to Richard van Tol for the scan).

Identical to the Twelfth print US version, though it has a stretched box (to accommodate a black-plastic dice tray), and includes a third booklet containing a small (two page) introduction to the D&D game.  This booklet is stapled to a cardboard cover, bearing the same artwork as the cover of the Player's Guide.  (Thanks to Alex Erne for this info, and to Richard van Tol and Selecta for the scan).

Auction History:  VF: $22 (9/03)

Publishing company may be "Sodedade Tipografica", though it is difficult to discern this from the scan.  Scan is of the DM's manual.

Identical to the Twelfth print US version.  (Thanks to Abel Ferrer for the scan).

Identical to the Twelfth print US version, including being printed in US letter size (even though it was printed in Germany and specifically ordered as size A4).  (Thanks to Mikael Borjesson and Andreas Landt for this info, and to Daniel Schenström for the scan).

Auction History:  NM/SW: $22 (9/03)