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Early PHB and DMG printings
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Baskii
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Post Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:46 pm 
 

Hi all,

I have what I believe to be early printings of the Players Handbook and Dungeon Masters Guide, and I'm interested to know what their value might be - and of course if anyone would be interested!
I've taken a look at the identification guide on the site, and I'm fairly sure that the PHB is a first (not 'true' first) printing, and that the DMG is a first printing.  Both books are whole, with the only internal marks being the original owner's name and address on the front endpaper.  The covers are heavily scuffed and faded, however.
I could provide pictures and/or scans if it would help.
Many thanks!
  

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killjoy32
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Post Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:19 pm 
 

stick up some pics for folk to see!

best way for folk to comment on what you have :)

Al


Are we nearly there yet?
  

sauromatian
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Post Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:42 pm 
 

Baskii wrote:The covers are heavily scuffed and faded, however.


I wonder why that is? Slightly earlier than usual printings [without ISBNs on the spines] are always heavily worn, while the ones printed just a little later are usually rock-solid after decades of use.

Were the buyers of the late 70s really so much more hardcore at using them for games, or was the quality of ink & cardboard just a little inferior than later?

The early 80s era of rock-solidity is followed by another bunch of wear-susceptible orange spined books. Again the early 80s printings are superior.
It's as if a spell of immortality were cast upon them.
  

deimos3428
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Post Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:00 am 
 

sauromatian wrote:I wonder why that is? Slightly earlier than usual printings [without ISBNs on the spines] are always heavily worn, while the ones printed just a little later are usually rock-solid after decades of use.

Were the buyers of the late 70s really so much more hardcore at using them for games, or was the quality of ink & cardboard just a little inferior than later?

Nope, in my experience that's not what's going on.  I believe you're witnessing an illusion.

The copies of the earliest printings can take a hit better than anything that followed.  What you're seeing are a bunch of tanks after a war.  All scuffed up and ugly, but generally unharmed.

The later (but still pre-orange spine) printings, while tough, would get damaged to the point they needed to be replaced.  So while the remaining copies appear to be in better average condition, those are the ones that haven't been in real combat. ;)

I've taken an early DMG apart (a fourth) -- and it's a struggle of titanic proportion.  The thing is both stitched and stapled together, with glue on the spine for good measure.  It doesn't actually require a spine to stay in one piece!
 YIM  

Baskii
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Post Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 12:31 pm 
 

The PHB and DMG I have are certainly in very good nick apart for the covers.  I agree, I think they were meant to last!
I'll do some scans and photographs tonight.

Baskii
  

Baskii
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Post Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:21 pm 
 

Below are some scans I made of the front and back covers of each of the books.  Apologies if these are too large.
Once again, although the covers are somewhat faded and scuffed, the binding is solid and there are no tears or rips.  If anyone is interested in seeing anything else specific please let me know and I'll take some more scans/photographs.
Edit: It seems as though the BBCode to insert the images isn't working, although that might just be me!  If not, please copy and paste the links into a browser.  If anyone can tell me why there might be a problem, I'll try to fix it!

Image
Image
Image
Image

Regards

Baskii
  

deimos3428
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Post Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:50 pm 
 

Baskii wrote:I have what I believe to be early printings of the Players Handbook and Dungeon Masters Guide, and I'm interested to know what their value might be - and of course if anyone would be interested!

To confirm:  that's definitely a 1st DMG, and also a 1st PHB if it's not mentioning the printing and has yellow flyleaves.

The values the Acaeum has listed for those printings aren't too far off the mark: http://www.acaeum.com/ddindexes/rulebooks.html

It's hard to tell conclusively, but I'd say the DMG's approximately VG to Fine, and the PHB in Good condition (lower due to the bubbling on the surface of the back cover).  So perhaps $100 for the pair, on a good eBay day, but these can vary +/- 50%.
 YIM  

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PM-Knight
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Post Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:00 pm 
 

deimos3428 wrote: . . . I've taken an early DMG apart (a fourth) -- and it's a struggle of titanic proportion.  The thing is both stitched and stapled together, with glue on the spine for good measure.  It doesn't actually require a spine to stay in one piece!


Hey Deimos,

Have you had a chance to perform any microscopic surgeries on that poor 4th edition creature that you dismembered  :wink: ???  Any further findings?

Thanks,


"Okay, we turn the corner and see a Purple 'WHAT' !?!" . . (the DM rolls a 20 or so he says) . . It all went black right after that.

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Baskii
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Post Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:29 pm 
 

The PHB is definitely a first printing - it simply says "(c)1978 - TSR Games" on the copyright page and has orange flyleaves.
So - I'll investigate the Classifieds subforum and see if anyone would be interested...
Many thanks for all your sage advice!

Baskii
  

deimos3428
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Post Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 2:14 pm 
 

PM-Knight wrote:
Hey Deimos,

Have you had a chance to perform any microscopic surgeries on that poor 4th edition creature that you dismembered  :wink: ???  Any further findings?

Thanks,

Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to do much further investigation as yet.  It's still on my list of things to do, though.
 YIM  
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