I have an original D&D set that I bought in 1975.  I believe it to be from the third printing, based on the dates inside the covers.  However, I believe that the woodgrained box has the grain running horizontally, not vertically.  Would someone please take a look at the attached image and let me know whether the grain is running vertically or horizontally?   If it's horizontal, is this an earlier box with a later set of books?  TIA.

Tom

http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] ... hotostream

Faro,  thanks for the info, I wondered about  the box.

Tom

Never sell it, my friend.  The money will be gone and you'll wish you had your woodgrain back.

A few years ago, I traded a very rare item for a stack or more common items, and I have regretted it many times since then.
I was very lucky to have obtained that item in the first place (purchased on e-Bay for MANY times less what it is worth).
This is made worse in that I am quite sure that I will never see another of its kind and in such great condition again.
Certainly not in my collection.

Since that time I have seriously considered selling my 2nd print wood grain box set several times.
Even listed it once on e-Bay with a reserve which was never even seriously approached by bids there.
I also offered it twice on the Acaeum for private sale.
Thankfully all of the offers were far enough off (IMO) so that the decision was easy to keep the set.

Would someone please explain to me how the wood grain is different in the 3rd print box linked above and the 1st print woodie listed on e-Bay right now?

** eBay auction listing blocked.  Please enable cookies in your browser for this site and for eBay! **

Is it as faro indicated above that the 3rd print is incorrectly described on the Acaeum Index?
IE. 3rd prints grain might go either way?

Thank you.
Yes, the sticker on the box top is indeed quite a bit different in size.