There is a distinction that the seller is not making with this auction.

The module might very well be in very good condition. Actually, it sounds as if it is much better. The seller is adjusting the grade to reflect the hole punching - calling it VG by Acaeum standards.

Here's the problem. There are "collectors," then there is "everyone else."
Collectors want their items to be of collectable grade. At the very least it needs to be in "as printed" condition. No separated pages, writing, etc. The overall condition vaires depending on the individual collector. Some guys want shrink, some mint, some will take VG so long as it looks solid and has good color.

The "everyone else" category of buyer is looking for playing copies, reading material, etc. Quality control is not necessarily the determining factor on the purchase.

That module, and the other "RARES" described by Acaeum, cannot be judged that way. There are no "everybody else" buyers.

If I am selling a B7 for example and it is in near mint condition but it is hole punched, I will describe it that way. Collectors are gonna avoid it. But odds are, it is still gonna sell for about 75% of near mint value. It is a good module and there is a market for that module that includes a broad base of purchasers.

The "Rares" do not share the same market of purchasers. That market is dominated by Collectors. Collectors are not going to buy a "rare" item that has been de-factorized (no longer in original printed condition). They will buy a rare that has wear - shelf wear, yellowed pages, etc. Minor detractions that are due more to the toll of time than due to owner degradations.

So, while you can sell the ordinary TSR stuff that has been physically modified from factory condition, the "rares" do not follow that trend.

I wouldn't even use Poor or Fair to describe that Lost Caverns. Although Acaeum grading is general, it must be adjusted to fit the "rares". The standards are different because the purchasing audiance is different.
So back to our example. Acaeum might call our B7 as VG due to the hole punch, even though it is in mint condition otherwise. That gives us a good idea of actual value. That methodology does not work for the "rares".

I have to agree with Frank ... I would rather spend a bit more and have a super nice Frank approved one.

The thing that bugged me about the other seller was that it took three emails for herto respond when I enquired about it.

invincibleoverlord wrote:Mysterious Merlin has just conjured up another……………….Tsoj  

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 41905&rd=1

erm, have you been reading my posts, Mike?

To be honest, the mention of a 1st edn. Chainmail is more interesting...

Harami wrote:

erm, have you been reading my posts, Mike?

I don't just read your posts Harami, I live for them…….. , I did read your post about the Mysterious Merlyn, I'm just shocked that it's the forth one in under a month. Do you know the seller?

To be honest, the mention of a 1st edn. Chainmail is more interesting...

I could only dream of a first edition Guidon chain coming to the block. The only thing that bothers me is how it's worded "Keep an eye out for my upcoming listings of 1st Ed. "Chainmail" and "Blackmoor". He's most likely talking about a TSR 3rd edition printing, but I hope my intuition is wrong.

Invincible

invincibleoverlord wrote:I don't just read your posts Harami, I live for them……..

Flattery is useless: I've got nothing to sell to you, Mike!
*lol*.

invincibleoverlord wrote:, I did read your post about the Mysterious Merlyn, I'm just shocked that it's the forth one in under a month. Do you know the seller?

No; not at all. Just know that they sent advance warning to people who bid on the previous copies.
(Free ads as well as attempted scams from elsewhere; great, huh? )

invincibleoverlord wrote:I could only dream of a first edition Guidon chain coming to the block. The only thing that bothers me is how it's worded "Keep an eye out for my upcoming listings of 1st Ed. "Chainmail" and "Blackmoor". He's most likely talking about a TSR 3rd edition printing, but I hope my intuition is wrong.

You mean the ones that have "3rd edition" printed on the front cover?
Would be a bit silly to claim "1st edition", if so!

There's one person here who sold a 1st Chainmail privately at the end of October. I only hope it's not now being resold for profit, if the buyer presented themselves as a "collector" at the time...

=

(aside: As for 1st "Blackmoor"s becoming more valuable (and noteworthy), recently; well, I suppose that's not entirely a bad thing, and has justification in the context of things. JMO, of course).

Deadlord36 wrote:No, I doubt he has it wrong. I'd bet it is a 1st. Mine went pretty cheap last year, and I got it far cheaper than that. I'd guess it would go for well over $500, probably $800 or so.

Are you sure you don't want to see the condition first, Frank? Might have plaster dust on the cover!

(...Or are you just happy to be escaping the "rat race", yourself? )

harami2000 wrote:

You mean the ones that have "3rd edition" printed on the front cover?
Would be a bit silly to claim "1st edition", if so

I don't know, again its how he grouped them together 1st edition "Chainmail & Blackmore". Again I think he's referring to OD&D, but believe me I'm hopeful. Hell I'd love for a TSR 3rd edition first print to come up as well. It just seems like if it was a Guidon 1st edition he'd have worded it that way. I don't know…………Someone e-mail him I'm to lazy, but no BIN or I'm sending draco76 after you to do his deed.

if you bid against me on this one I will be forced to hunt you down! I'll stab you in the eye with a 30th Anniversary pencil!

Hard to say, Ralf. I think that stash of 10 copies makes it more available than Tamo or Ghost. IF it ever went to market. I'm beginning to wonder, too, if it was released commercially. I've heard from quite a few people that they bought their copy in a Mom & Pop game store back when it came out. It's a guess, but perhaps TSR sent promo/leftover copies out to certain stores after the tourney. Why? Same reason I don't believe for a minute that the extra St1's were pulped: TSR was too frigging cheap. I know I would have been. I know that the Tamoes sold out, since my #297 came from the tournament itself, so at best they had 3 copies left over. I'd say Ghost was the same. Fazzle too, and as I've said before, until I see or get irrefutable proof that 2nd prints Fazzles exist, I maintain that there ARE no 2nd's.
Soooooooooooo, I'd say that Tsoj/ST1 are the most common tourneys out there, followed by Ghost, then Tamo, then Fazzle. Just my 2 cents. WHich is worth about 1/2 penny right now, since the goddam dollar is hardly worth using to wipe my kid's butt.