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B2 First printing date. Source?
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Malchor77
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Post Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 10:16 pm 
 

The page on B1 and B2 mentions:
First (Dec 1979):  Wizard logo.  Copyright states 1980, but was actually printed in Dec 1979.


Is there a source on this version going to press in Dec 79?
  

Malchor77
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Post Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 7:50 am 
 

Malchor77 wrote in B2 First printing date. Source?:The page on B1 and B2 mentions:
First (Dec 1979):  Wizard logo.  Copyright states 1980, but was actually printed in Dec 1979.


Is there a source on this version going to press in Dec 79?


I have a copy of this printing, Mentzer is listed in the credits, along with Moldvay.

Wikipedia says Mentzer started at TSR in January 1980 (Jan 19th 1980 according to Frank on Dragonsfoot).

So the print and release dates listed must be incorrect.

Side note: Mentzer and Moldvay started on the same day—source, Mentzer. So we know when Moldvay started as well.
  

Malchor77
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Post Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 9:01 am 
 

Malchor77 wrote:Wikipedia says Mentzer started at TSR in January 1980 (Jan 19th 1980 according to Frank on Dragonsfoot).


My bad, Frank arrive in Lake Geneva by train on Jan 19, 1980 (a Saturday), so he likely started the Monday after. From Frank's telling of how he added the chapel, he was still considered the new guy and was in the offices (at least that was my takeaway). In any case the print and release appear to be off.
  

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Post Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 10:25 am 
 

Yep, for years I've told that story... Jan 20, 1980, Tom and I started in the same office.

I wrote the Chapel in the KotB, via interoffice memo. It was approved.

No idea where the 1979 claim came from.

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Post Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 10:52 am 
 

Good enough for me!  Fixed.

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Post Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 10:29 pm 
 

Malchor and I were talking about this at NTRPGCon. I've been aware of it for a while, I'm glad it's corrected here now.

This may have arisen because B2 is usually found with the Third Edition of the Holmes Rulebook, which is dated December 1979 on the title page. So someone assumed B2 came out at the same time.


Zenopus Archives website & blog: Exploring the Underworld of Holmes Basic D&D. Holmes Ref: Reference Sheets for Holmes Basic Referees, also compatible with OD&D plus the Greyhawk supplement
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Malchor77
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Post Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:29 pm 
 

Wikipedia had the same, "The Keep on the Borderlands was first printed in December 1979 and published in 1980." The Wikipedia source was Shadis #29 from 1996. Just edited it on Wikipedia as well.

The Holmes Basic 3rd edition of the rulebook may have been printed in Dec. 79, but the box and other contents look to have been printed later. Before printing on demand, a larger run and storing some stock was cheaper than multiple shorter runs. The alternative is that they did do multiple runs, but kept using the same plates and skipped the expense of changing only the title page.

Funny enough it was Frank retelling the story of catching the "glitch" in B2 that got my brain to snap onto this glitch. Glad it is fixed now.
  
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