Very unlikely that they are legit reprints.  The CPI Group offers POD services for as little as one book.  Someone probably decided to do a couple from digital files.

The printing seems to be washed out.

aia wrote in Interesting Items Currently on eBay:
** expired/removed eBay auction **


Please note that these booklets are a reprint of 2024 made in UK... is it legit?! I didn't read of such a reprint...

Prob an illegal reprint, oddest bit was only two books though - what's the point? (I would have been in for reading copies of the three books)

A lower print run and few surviving copies are likely the primary drivers of the higher valuation.  As you mentioned, the more colorful cover might be be a factor, too.

There haven't been a lot of these available and/or sold at auction since 2007.  We only have six documented, and only two since 2020.  One of those sold for $700 (FR) and the other for $1,835 (VG).  Some have been sold in the past few years at fixed prices, but those sales weren't recorded, since the prices don't necessarily match market demand.

This is actually a pretty good price, considering the condition.  It's likely that some of the soiling/staining and dents/dings could be removed, upgrading the condition.  With a little coaxing of the seller, it's possible that it could be picked up for a better price, too.

Thanks, will go down that route then.

Appreciate the thoughts, bit of a dream to own something like this - I suppose the question is if just better to wait and try pick up an early printing.

Though I suspect the answer might be "you should get both"    

This might be worth considering:

** expired/removed eBay auction **

** expired/removed eBay auction **

Actually, that was me sniping! (Thanks aia!!). Although I have items from the OCE era and aroundabouts and also later rules and mods, I haven't really looked at picking up these big box basic sets. So this is a bit new to me and I am not 100% sure as to all the parts etc.. But I look forward to finding out  

PS. Thanks again for the pointer. I will try and return the favour by posting more in this thread for people.

Digest-sized version (5x8 inches) of the Mentzer Basic D&D rules in a paperback book style format. (272 pages)  Printed in the UK.  Different interior art than the U.S. rules and British spellings.  I haven't seen one of these available for some time.

3-day auction on eBay:


** expired/removed eBay auction **


~Kat  ^_^

Katchoo wrote in Interesting Items Currently on eBay:Digest-sized version...

If they shipped this to the UK, I would definitely be bidding.