Dude, you're kidding, right?

Sorry, I got a little carried away there!  

Hi all,
I think darkseraphim is right about the shrink with two exceptions. We believe that there is a "5th phase" and that the "3rd phase" only lasted until sometime in 1980 or early 1981. The "5th phase" is the same as the 3rd phase except better quality shrink. Here is a list of a few modules with the year they were produced, printing, and what kind of shrink:

Dungeon Geomorphs Set 2, 1977, 1st print, "1st phase" (loose/bubbly)
Monster & Treasure Assortment Set 1, 1977, 1st print, "2nd Phase" ("flaky")
Monster & Treasure Assortment Sets 1-3, 1980, 1st print "3rd phase" ("holes")
A2, 1981, 1st print, "4th phase" ("seam")
AC1, 1983, "4th phase"
AC3, 1984, "4th phase"
AC6, 1985, 2nd print, "5th phase" (holes)

Maybe someone else can verify this. Especially the early years.

Interesting topic!

I went and pulled out a few of my older shrinkwrapped items, then compared them to the phases you mention.  They didn't match up well, unfortunately:

1) 1977 Dungeon Geomorphs Set 3, 1st print.  This shrinkwrap is very loose, which initially led me to believe that it might be fake.  However, the seams are quite straight and run symmetrically around the outside border of the item, there's no seam overlap, etc.  Also, there's a very important indicator on the rear: a circular "breathing hole", about the exact diameter of a standard hole-punch.  Shrinkwrap is basically "shrunk" around an item using heat, which makes placing a perfectly circular hole in shrinkwrap difficult if not impossible for the counterfeiter.  You'd have to do it after the plastic was already in its final shrunk form (otherwise, the hole would be irregular), and how do you put the hole in without also putting a hole in the item itself?

2) 1977 Monster & Treasure Set Two, 1st print.  This item, while presumably from the same time frame as the item above, has completely different shrinkwrap.  This shrinkwrap is beautiful -- tight and perfectly form-fitting, but doesn't warp the item at all.  Almost no creases, bubbles, etc -- from a few feet away, you might think the item is laminated.  It also has a breathing hole, this time on the front.

3) My oldest shrinked item, a 1976 All the World's Monsters (though not TSR), has shrink much like item #1 -- loose, but otherwise clean seams.  No breathing hole, however.

4) Several pastel modules (G and D series) from 1978, though from the UK rather than the US.  Each exhibits subtle differences.  On one, the seam "wraps" around from the back, so that the front "piece" of shrinkwrap is smaller than the back.  But the seams are otherwise tight and clean.  Some of the modules have a glassy appearance, while others have more wrinkles and are slightly looser.  All the shrinks, however, could be described as "flaky" -- it seems rather old and brittle, and tears very easily.  No breathing holes.

5) Lastly, module B1 mono from 1979.  This one is semi-loose, though again, the seams are tight and regular.  But there's an absolute ton of wrinkles and bubbles in it.  No breathing hole.

SOOO.... all I can really determine, assuming that I don't inadvertantly have any fakes here, is that I can't determine anything.  If I were to compile a guide based on all the statements put forth so far, few of my shrinked modules would comfortably fit into any of the categories.  If I were a new collector, I'd be panicked that I'd received a fake.  And I'd e-mail my nearest sage, asking for clarification.  Ick.

I would think that TSR, along with switching printers every few months, also switched shrinkwrap suppliers.  I'd feel comfortable offering more suggestions on how to spot fake shrinkwrap, but I don't know if the phases would hold up here.

Any ideas?

Foul

Maybe this would be a good thread to get Frank Menzter to chime in on, I'll ping him to see what wisdom he can shed....

Hey Foul, my Monster & Treasure Assortments have the same type of shrink as yours. Tight fitting, hole on front, but slight wrinkling of shrink at the edges.

The Monster & Treasure Assortments are 1st prints(Lizard Logo). Our Outdoor Geomorphs are 3rd print(Wizard Logo) and has the same type of shrink as the M&TA's. Yes, the shrink has seen better days.

Lot of shrinkwrapped modules by this seller, they look pretty sloppy to be honest, but Im no expert...I just kind of remember the wrap being pretty tight but not so tight it bent the modules.

Anyone care to check these out?  Comments would be appreciated!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3186176739

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3186177160

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3186177463

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3186177891

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3186178284

Actually all of his modules are shrinkwrapped...anyhow these should be enough for now.

Hamilcar is legit. He is selling this stuff for his old boss, who was a game distributer. I would look out for any item described as having corner damage, it is insect/rodent damage. If the item is described as "pristine" then it usually is.