Howdy All,


Here is a little research I've been putting together. Just confirmed one, possibly two, new printings. Bon appetit:

1st Edition
·        First (March 1971)
o        Published by Guidon Games -- no company address listed
o        62 total pages (47 numbered pages)
o        Binding is stapled with two staples
o        Cover is leather-textured tan-yellow with a white interior
o        Contrary to rumor, the 15-page Fantasy Supplement is indeed present
o        While this version has 12 more pages than later prints, this is almost entirely due to the font size and formatting used.  In fact, this version contains only six spells, which were expanded in later prints



2nd Edition
·        First (May 1972)
o        Published by Guidon Games -- address of the company is Evansville, Indiana (on the copyright page)
o        48 total pages (35 numbered pages); font size is now smaller and easier to read
o        Binding is stapled with four staples
o        Cover is identical to 1st
o        Incorporated rule changes first published in 1971, issue #11 of the Domesday newsletter (LGTSA Medieval Miniatures: Rules Changes by Gary Gygax, pg. 16)
o        Spell list expanded to 8 spells adding moving terrain and protection from evil
o        Catalog added, includes Wargamer's Guide to Afrika Korps $2.00, Chainmail $2.00, Tractics $7.50, Hardtack $2.00, Fast Rules $2.00, Don't Give Up the Ship $2.00



·        Second (May 1972)
o        Published by Guidon Games -- address of the company is Belfast, Maine (on the copyright page)
o        48 total pages (35 numbered pages); font size is now smaller and easier to read
o        Binding is stapled with two staples
o        Cover is now a smooth yellow-orange medium weight stock and is the same color on the inside
o        Incorporated rule changes first published in the Domesday newsletter (unknown issue, but the corrections appear on page 16 of that issue)
o        Spell list expanded to 8 spells adding moving terrain and protection from evil
o        Catalog now includes Wargamer's Guide to Afrika Korps $2.00, Wargamer's Guide to Battle of the Bulge $2.00, Chainmail $2.00, Tractics $7.50, Hardtack $2.00, Fast Rules $2.00, Don't Give Up the Ship $2.00



·        Third (July 1973)
o        Published by Guidon Games -- address of the company is Belfast, Maine (on the copyright page)
o        48 total pages (35 numbered pages)
o        Binding is stapled with two staples
o        Cover is now a smooth bright yellow medium weight stock and is the same color on the inside
o        Incorporated rule changes first published in the Domesday newsletter (unknown issue, but the corrections appear on page 16 of that issue)
o        Spell list expanded to 8 spells adding moving terrain and protection from evil
o        Catalog now includes Wargamer's Guide to Afrika Korps $2.50, Wargamer's Guide to Battle of the Bulge $2.50, Wargamer's Guide to Stalingrad $2.50, Chainmail $2.50, Tractics $7.50, Hardtack $2.50, Fast Rules $1.50, Don't Give Up the Ship $2.50, Grosstaktik $2.50, Ironclad $2.50, Tricolor $3.00



However, there might be an earlier 2nd edition printing than the 1st from the much disputed auction or late. I have extrapolated the following from the auction, questions to the seller, and from additional photo's provided by the seller (and kindly forwarded to me by Stephen, aka bombadil):

·        2nd, Variant (? 1972)
o        Published by Guidon Games -- address of the company is Evansville, Indiana (on the copyright page)
o        48 total pages (35 numbered pages); font size is now smaller and easier to read
o        Binding is stapled with four staples
o        Cover is identical to 1st -- it does not state 2nd Edition
o        Incorporated rule changes first published in 1971, issue #11 of the Domesday newsletter (LGTSA Medieval Miniatures: Rules Changes by Gary Gygax, pg. 16)
o        Spell list expanded to 8 spells adding moving terrain and protection from evil
o        Catalog added, includes Wargamer's Guide to Afrika Korps $2.00, Chainmail $2.00, Tractics $7.50, Hardtack $2.00, Fast Rules $2.00, Don't Give Up the Ship $2.00



Unless another one is found this may just be a hastily put together prototype with a 1st Edition cover leftover or a replacement cover for a damaged 2nd Edition cover. In any case the picture seems a bit glossy and may be a photocopy. However, without phsically looking at the book I am unsure. It is interesting to note that, this copy has 4 staples according to the seller - just like the 2nd Edition, 1st printing listed above. It is an unusual arrangement, 2 staples bind the text block together and 2 staples bind the cover to the text block, that is not repeated in the 1st edition or any of the later ones. That leads me to believe that the set was put together by the same individual(s) or company as did the 2nd edition, 1st print listed above -- and that is certainly a legitimate copy.

So what we have has to be something done by Lowry or his printer - time will tell if it is an actual printing with more than one copy was made, a hybrid to make up for missing or damaged covers, or a prototype from the printer.

Well that's it for now. I'll have some additional information on my continued Chainmail research for the TSR edition as well.


Futures Bright,

Paul

Howdy Frank,

Deadlord39 wrote:Excellent information! I asked the seller about it myself, and he told me that you bought it from him via private deal after the auction was ended, so perhaps some of the cobwebs will be cleared soon.
It will probably turn out to be an aberration. As was typical with TSR, they probably had extra 1E covers and wanted to use them to save money.

Yep, if anyone had noticed, I had already bought the heretofore undiscovered 2nd/2nd from the same seller a few weeks before. Long after all of the hubbub died down he emailed me to ask if I wanted to buy the 2nd variant since I had bought the other one from him. When I get a look at the copy, I hope to shed some light about what it is. I'll update the images when I can get them.

The 2nd/2nd I bought from him previously is exactly like another I have. I thought there might be a difference and so bought it. Alas, no different than my 2nd/2nd other than condition. However, it did confirm that the 2nd/2nd I already possessed was a legitimate printing with more than one in existence.


Futures Bright,

Paul

Yeah, I thought that last variant looked like the one from the auction that got pulled while I was high bidder.  If I recall correctly, the seller had at least one offer right after the auction was pulled.  He wanted to know if I was still interested in it.

Rakeesh sah Tarna wrote:staples crazy uneven has two folding creases and title line curved but book possibly too = may be totally duplicated. have seen pirate original dungeons and dragons rules and chainmails

Huh?

like deadlored says. inside may be fake too and if not on ebay then with no guarantee

Which is why I didn't pursue it.

confirmed genuine? any more scans please.
viewtopic.php?t=4726

Introduced in Quest for Glory, one of the best game series ever developed.

I'm curious to see what the marketing scheme is for the unconfirmed "undiscovered 2nd print". Seems a bit presumptuous to call it a new printing, though I suppose it will reel in the noobies. Perhaps add in a few photocopied character sheets?