Feels nicer, but falls apart way more easily. I prefer non-glossy paper, but the crappily-bound covers are welcome to stay in the past, imo

Hrm, maybe I've just had cruddy luck with them then. Most of the 1st ed hardbacks that I've owned had their spines cracking away whenever I flipped through them. Didn't lose any pages that I can recall, but the spine/binding was definately loose



The 2nd Ed hardbacks (early ones, I don't know about the black-cover ones) were terrible for spine cracking and pages falling out

bclarkie wrote:There certainly has been an increase in certain items recently, but without having my numbers right here in front of me, I am still pretty sure that just about doubles the highest receorded price that we have fpr a 1st print MM. I will have to check that when I get home and will post a follow up latter. IMHO, I think that that final is very high.

As promised, here is my follow up. The previous highest recorded price that I have is $148.00 for a Near MInt one back in 2004. The second highest price that a 1st printing went for, was back in 2001 and that went for $143.00 and was also Near Mint. The 3rd highest listing for a 1st printing was $128.00 also back in 2001 in Very Fine condition, and no other 1st print MM has even come close to breaking $100.00. Not including the 3 most recent ones, the last one to go up for sale on EBay was Aneoth's that sold for $36.65 back in the spring that Creepontheborderlands won(and tried to sell 3 seperate times unsuccessfully afterward for more than that ). Granted Aneoth's was not in great condition by far, but seriously, that is almost a $250.00 difference. This auction was a complete abberation due to a few bidders that absolutely had to have it. It seems tauglorimorgorus specifically is newer to the collecting scene and either has very deep pockets or one hell of a Credit Card bill on the way, because he is bidding exhorbitantly high on everything.



Aside: The bidder who actually won this auction won an auction a few months ago that also raised some eyebrows:



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 5186939431



I am sure most of you remember this auction, because it had the seemingly hidden(or so me and deimos thought ) 1st print DMG in Near Mint condition.  It also had a real nice condition 2nd print PHB.

(Those NM $148 & $143 copies are both now shown as VF. Part of the regrading process?).

bclarkie wrote:and no other 1st print MM has even come close to breaking $100.00.

Thanks for checking the records, Brian. The 1st MM is certainly one item that has been bubbling under for some time, regardless of how many copies were "stated" to have been printed.



I've paid $125 and have seen a copy offered (but not bought!) at $295.

On the Acaeum "estimated values" page, even a "Fine" copy is rated over $100.



I think the major reason for the premium on this auction was the (stated) condition which might fit in with recent trends on higher grade "rares".

(Not a trend I particularly favor since it feels like an increasingly "look, don't touch" outlook, even if that's not the full story).

bclarkie wrote:Aside: The bidder who actually won this auction won an auction a few months ago that also raised some eyebrows:



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 5186939431



I am sure most of you remember this auction, because it had the seemingly hidden(or so me and deimos thought ) 1st print DMG in Near Mint condition. It also had a real nice condition 2nd print PHB.

Hmm... yet another overbid auction that Stephen still failed to win...

Following up further on this, I lied(although not intentionally). Sorry.



The info I was going by earlier today was actually not including the most recent data that I had collected, however of the additional auctions that I did track, none come anywhere close to $285.00 either. although I did track some others that went over $100.00. There were 3 auctions that I did track for spring/early summer '05' that exceended $100.00, with auction totals of $109.46 VF, $135.03 NM, & $118.50 VF respectively. This of course explains why Fine lists for $100, however this just further proves that todays auction is out of the norm.

Don't know if anyone's seen this one yet, but I offer:



2nd Edition Dungeon and Dragons Books | eBay



What a steal!!

I like the line ....

Certainly a colletors item

Quick I must sell all my old stuff and get the highly collectable and rare 2nd ed.  Now all I need is to get themsignedby LW  :twisted:

afoolandhis$ wrote:Ahhh, the oft overlooked vice/art of book-smelling... Does that go hand-in-hand with dice-fondling?

Looks over shoulder...Are you watching me?

mbassoc2003 wrote:

slydeshadowdart wrote:Don't know if anyone's seen this one yet, but I offer:



2nd Edition Dungeon and Dragons Books | eBay



What a steal!!

My question...



"I've been looking for these amazingly rare books for years. If you start your auction at 99 cents and put a BIN of $14.99 you might get a bidder. Although these are clearly highly valuable to you, the world is only buying the books, not your nostalgic love affair with them."



Wonder if I'll get a response?

Ahh, nothing like a little flame through email.  Somehow, I dont think she'll respond.

mbassoc2003 wrote:Interesting buying history.

Large and kinky.