Bartertown.com

I was thinking about putting this up for trade, but I confess I have no idea as to the relative rarity of this, and didn't want to ask for too much or too little.

I have the UK printing of the D&D Basic Rules (printed 1986). I find a mention of it on Amazon (but no price), and one international eBay listing.

Anyway, it's the one shown at the link:
http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/uk/basicrules.htm
Anyone know anything about this?

Honestly, I doubt that it's rare at all.
I mean, even in the UK, there had to be hundreds of thousands of those. The high tens of thousands, at minimum.

It's one of the most common items you can find in the states... Anyplace *I* have looked, anyway.

I can't tell you how many US versions of that book I've overlooked over the years.

Pfft. I have one close enough to me right now that I could reach out & touch it.

Granted, it's US vs UK... but I would think it would be similar.

Eric

I have seen plenty of those books. I have one dated 1983 titled DM Rulebook.

The older books from the 70's would have some value but more sentimental than monetary. Such items are best to keep in my opinion.

I figured it was fairly common, but began to wonder when I wasn't finding any currently for sale, anywhere. The ebay listing I found is in Italy (and they want some ridiculously high amount for it), and I don't generally consider one listing to be an accurate assessment of value anyway.

I find plenty of the box sets (on both sides of the pond), and have come across various printings of the basic rules over the years, but this one was never part of a box set.

I was hoping that someone on the other side of the pond could help, either by saying "Oh sure, there are three or four of those in almost every used bookstore" or "That's actually worth something."

Never part of a box set?

Could you elaborate?

Eric

MagickalMemories wrote:Never part of a box set?

Could you elaborate?

Eric

It is a digest-sized book, contains both the Players Manual and the Dungeon Masters rulebook. The blurb on the back of the book says "all you need . . . are paper, pencils, some special dice from a games hobby shop, and this book."

Based on that, plus some info gleaned from the eBay listing and several collector/completist TSR sites, lead me to the conclusion that this was a stand-alone product, instead of part of a box set.

If you check the link below, you will find the following text. you have the 48 page rulebook. the box set came with a 64 page dungeonmasters guide, 6 dice and a crayon.

Unfortunately, you only have part of what was in the box and the 1983 publishing was a pretty massive scale publishing, so it's not that rare.

As to what it's worth, well, it's worth what someone else will pay for it. Who knows, there might be some soul who is missing that book from his box set and wouldn't mind parting with a few quid/dollars for it.

http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/dd/dd-bbox.htm

Item Code: #1011
Title: Basic Rules Set 1
Type: Core Rules
Published: 1983
Format: 48-page book, 64-page book, 6 dice, crayon


"Your first step on the road to Adventure!"

This is a game that helps you imagine.

"As you whirl around, your sword ready, the huge red fire-breating dragon swoops TOWARDS you with a ROAR!"

See? You imagination woke up already. Now imagine: this game will probably be more FUN than any other game you've ever played!

The DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game is a way for us to imagine together - sort of like reading the same book, or dreaming the same dream. But it's a book that YOU can write, without putting a word on paper - just by playing the D&D game.

This New Popular Edition has been completely revised to include ONE-PLAYER GAMES as well as group games for Players and Dungeon Masters. YOU can start playing RIGHT AWAY!

This box contains all you need to start having FUN:


Programmed adventures for easy learning and HOURS of FUN
The PLAYER'S GUIDE for beginning characters - with simple and expert combat rules, magic spells, and role playing tips
The DUNGEON MASTER'S HANDBOOK - full of treasures, monsters, and dungeons
All the Dice you need - Six different kinds included, with marker crayon

morgan kelly wrote:If you check the link below, you will find the following text. you have the 48 page rulebook. the box set came with a 64 page dungeonmasters guide, 6 dice and a crayon.

Unfortunately, you only have part of what was in the box and the 1983 publishing was a pretty massive scale publishing, so it's not that rare.

Actually, it's 272 pages thick. It's also a 1986 printing - it is identical to the one I linked to in my first post, not the one you showed.

Edit - As I said, it's the UK edition. On the back, it even has the "This edition is not for sale in Canada or the USA" and it initially had a price of 4.95 pounds.

Well, that's quite interesting.

I will have to retract my statements above.

Not only do I not know what it's worth, but I've never seen one like it and had no idea such a beast even existed.

That being said, there's not a big market for older D&D stuff, so I still doubt you'd get a huge price for it.


Eric

warlordgarou wrote:
Actually, it's 272 pages thick. It's also a 1986 printing - it is identical to the one I linked to in my first post, not the one you showed.

Edit - As I said, it's the UK edition. On the back, it even has the "This edition is not for sale in Canada or the USA" and it initially had a price of 4.95 pounds.

I stand corrected. I would have to mirror MagickalMemories' statement in that I wouldn't know what it would bring you now.

Thanks. As I said, the only eBay listing for it is high (like $125 or something), but one eBay listing is not indicative of any actual value. I might have to do some more hunting, but google hasn't been terribly helpful with it either. Maybe I should post over on the D&D boards and see what kind of answers I get.

(It is an odd beast - I picked it up on a whim, and it was one of the few books I brought back with me from England, just because it was kind of odd. I brought back some Steve Jackson thing too ("Out of the Pit" - some list of 250 monsters, which I can find, though my copy is pretty beat up, and it seems to be a fairly common book.)

You say you've looked at Feebay listings... Have you looked at COMPLETED listings?

If not, you should try that. It's the best indicator I've found for what something's likely to sell for.


Eric

MagickalMemories wrote:You say you've looked at Feebay listings... Have you looked at COMPLETED listings?

If not, you should try that. It's the best indicator I've found for what something's likely to sell for.


Eric

Yep, completed and internationally. The only thing I have found is one listing in an eBay store. I found no listings for the 'Out of the Pit' thing, but it shows up via froogle, alibris and some other sites. But with the D&D book, nothing but the one.

I'm currently repainting the basement, and as I am moving stuff, I keep finding books that I forgot I had. I had forgotten that I had either one of those until earlier this week, and I just today found my copy of "Heroes for Tomorrow".

I would wander over to the Acaeum website.. www.acaeum.com this is a pretty good website for OOP D&D and the collectors there are quite generous with their advice and knowledge..

-Porkuslime