Original Woodgrain Edition Dungeons and Dragons Box Set Sells For $22,100

Original Woodgrain Edition Dungeons and Dragons Box Set Sells For $22,100

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A first printing of the original woodgrain box edition of Dungeons and Dragons, one of the rarest RPG collectibles, sold on eBay Friday for $22,100. The seller tells the story of how they acquired this ultra-rare piece of gaming history in the item description:

This set is in Very Fine condition with one small stain on the front label and very minor scuffing on the corners of the box. Note that the Reference Sheets are not stapled, but loose sheets folded together. This was the original condition.

It was acquired by the present owner in an interesting way.

In 1974 I worked in a project offering supplemental educational materials to four school districts in Northwestern Wisconsin. I met Bill, an elementary school librarian, who was very excited about working with his students using role playing games. He had a friend in Minneapolis whom he had met through their shared interest in war gaming. This friend, “Lance,” was involved with creating a new project, a fantasy-style wargame in a box that could be played by anyone.

My librarian friend was working with a sixth-grade class to create a book based on playing the game. Included in this set is a copy of the booklet that his students created using the game. Bill also used a 20-sided die that he had hand-colored to differentiate scoring. Adding to the charm of this set, the die is included, as is a hand-written note from Bill, the librarian, explaining the use of the die. He added that there was currently a shortage of these dice, but they were available in England. He was going to England for a vacation, and would be bringing some back with him.

I’m not sure this is a record price, but it must be pretty close. It’s definitely one of the most high-profile sales of a D&D collectible in recent memory. The seller, editorjan_1, has never previously sold on eBay, and has a zero feedback score, which makes this auction something of a risk for the buyer. See the complete listing on eBay here, and a more detailed breakdown of everything in the box at acaeum.com.

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James McGlothlin

It’s amazing what this stuff goes for now. I slowly collected the first 100 issues of Dragon Magazine over the last few years. I then recently decided to sell some of them to finance a newer hobby. I didn’t sell them on eBay but to well-known RPG online seller. I was shocked how much I got for the first fifty issues. (The value drops dramatically after that issue.) If I had been willing to wait, and do the hard work of eBaying them, I’m sure I would’ve gotten even more.

[…] (14) HIGHEST BIDDER. Black Gate says the sale happened Friday on eBay — “Original Woodgrain Edition Dungeons and Dragons Box Set Sells For $22,100”. […]

Tiberius

Impressive. Collecting RPG’s has become a hobby on its own. Even games which by these days standards may be unplayable can garner a decent price based purely on their age and condition. Every so often one comes across such a treasure trove on eBay, a guy selling his collection or attic finds etc.

I hear you on the Dragon magazines. My collection #100 up was easy enough to do, but when you start dropping into the first 50 magazines…

James McGlothlin

@Tiberius

It’s not the same as collecting the actual magazines, but here’s a link to pdfs of the first 250 issues.

http://annarchive.com/dragon.html

Joe H.

My physical Dragon collection only starts in the mid-40s, and, given the number of detached or semi-detached covers, etc., likely won’t be funding my retirement. Which is fine because I have no intention of selling them.

I do have the Dragon Archive on CD (which I assume is the source for the PDFs linked above), but it’s not quite the same — maybe someday I’ll try to start filling in some of the gaps …

Tiberius

Thanks for the link James, will be sure to check it out. Agree with Joe H, while enjoyable its not quite the same.

Must say one of my reasons for trying to collect from way back issues was to try and make head or tail of the Wormy comic strip.

James McGlothlin

“Must say one of my reasons for trying to collect from way back issues was to try and make head or tail of the Wormy comic strip.”

Haha! That cracked me up! I know what you mean though. Sometimes that Wormy strip would be just one gloriously painted frame. I think it took a year for Wormy to get through just ONE game of pool!

Does anybody remember the ongoing tease of What’s New with Phil and Dixie? Every issue they were supposed to talk about sex and D&D, the next next issue.

[…] Woodgrain Edition Dungeons & Dragons Box Set (1974). Crédit photo : BlackGate, […]


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