Tadashi Ehara's (Different Worlds Publications) POTVQ arrived today.

1. Black folder version

2. 25 8.5" x 11" loose-leaf? printed one side, should only be 24 (2 level 5 player's maps), definitely all printed on a press 2-tone gray/black on maps only achievable by making a plate, including the Tri-folded level 5 DM's map (looks like the Ink well in the press was low).

3. Intro page Yellow printed on a press "noted from the black tone in artwork.

4. Copyright page: white loose (looks like some old dried rubber cement across top back of sheet, and definitly not enough to attach itself to the inside of the folder for long with maps sliding in and out. States: 1st printing June 76

Here's some thoughts, I worked in a print shop:

The black cardboard folder with (blood?) red lettering and artwork, is not just red, but red foil stamp. This is an expensive prosess. First you would have to have a die made $$$, then foil comes on a roll and is not cheap, the size you would need here would be at least 10" wide (top of the title to the bottom of the tower), and the waste would be silly after the punching of the red foil on each folder all the black area would be unuseable. And each folder would have to be hand loaded onto the die cuter. You can't stack folders into the loader like loose paper. Print runs for something like this are 100, 200, 500 etc..

This black folder version seems to be a grander idea than the zip-lock version. So mabey they ran out of folders and decided the folder wasen't cost effective (notice: The Dwarven Glory 1st print no folder) or they weren't ready and sent out the zip-lock version first. Yet the double sided printing again seems cost cuting and changing the copyright page to yellow to give to module a front/back feel.

Your thoughts,

Mike

Deadlord36 wrote:I already gave my thoughts and extensive research. As far as I'm concerned, it is a 1st print. Bagged versions are 2nd.

I was bidding on it as a first.
Agreed on the folder - which was a bit of a fiasco in an earlier auction this year - and only Tadashi's implication of it being incomplete (later copy of that map) kept me from going higher.

Could read that single-sided copying - which still appears to be a bonus in scarcity terms - in various ways, some of which make less sense (cost cutting, allowing space for notes, etc.) if there was only one print run.
Laziness would be a better excuse, if there was no auto-duplexing(?). Or perhaps the single-sided version is a bit tight in the folder?
(just my 02 cents, since I don't have a copy to consider, in front of me... )

=

(p.s. You're going to have to widen your search criteria further, IMHO; a few good museum exhibit pieces just went by and only Burnie, Mike <improvstone> and myself bid on them...).

You mean the Alarums? I was shocked they went so high. I have 1-76 minus 3 issues already, and now I'm strating to consider selling them.

Deadlord36 wrote:You mean the Alarums? I was shocked they went so high. I have 1-76 minus 3 issues already, and now I'm strating to consider selling them.

Frank, stop teasing us.  Either sell or don't sell but for heavens sake stop droping hints ....

John, thanks...

deimos3428 wrote:That's why I can't outbid you guys.  You have money left after going to the pub!  

I can't afford to go to the pub anymore ..  

I think Harami owes me a few beers for the the number of times he has pushed up my bids ...

I picked them up this spring, when I got the Dragon run. I got Wild Hunt 7-something as well. I haven't had time, nor will I ever, to actually read them. Are they any good?
Judging by the $40's price for the few mid-30's issues that just sold, my run must be worth thousands!

Then I'll sell mine. I know they're stupidly rare, but I have no real use for them. To eBay they go!

Deadlord36 wrote: Then I'll sell mine. I know they're stupidly rare, but I have no real use for them. To eBay they go!

Since you have so many issues, you could make an index of the contents so the rest of us could decide if there's any issues worth getting without having to pay re-seller prices to find out.

If you have a little free time, that is... :)

Could you tell me offhand if any of the issues have short stories by J. Eric Holmes? The author blurb from his book Maze of Peril indicates he had stories published in Dragon and in Alarums and Excursions.

I agree with the above - I remember hearing about A&E and thinking it sounded really cool... I got my hands on a copy eventually (#89 I think it is) and eagerly waited for its arrival.. but when I sat down to actually read it, it was rather disappointing. As Dathon says, it feels cobbled together and the articles weren't all that interesting.

I did however bid on the recent auction for 5 30's issues - I thought maybe the early issues were OK (I'm erternally optimistic). But I only bid $25 for the five, and had the dubious pleasure of seeing the 'Your bid amount is less than the current price' message come up after I tried to enter my snipe. I don't mind being outbid, or not reaching a proxy, but that insufficient message really makes you feel like a loser.

Regards

Mike