Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1979 DM Screen: Teenage wish list Fulfilled

 

Back in the early 80's we wanted every TSR product we could get our hands on. High on that list was the DM Screen.

If you're a "gen-X" kid like me you remember the halcyon days of TSR. New D&D products appearing at the local store on a regular basis.

I grew up in a small town...rural even. We had to head to the larger small town to find D&D stuff. Even then...it was a crap shoot.

You'd better have the money on you or the new product might be gone...never to be seen again!

We'll...we all lusted after a DM Screen. Great art work by Dave Trampier & all.

Well...in my "Middle Age"...I've been lucky enough to aquire a couple of copies.

The 1st is an actual 1st print 1979 DM screen. It's in mint condition...and I paid a pretty penny for it.

4 panel cardboard. Front side (with he art work) is laminated, the inside is not. Have to love the Player's Handbook art. The other...with the Dragon, Lizardmen, and adventurers is my absolute favorite work by Trampier.

The 2nd DM screen is own is a 5th printing from 1981.

This edition adds the cover art by Erol Otus. I was able to identify this as a "5th printing" with the help of the great "The Acaeum" website. Check out Acaeum.com is you have any D&D items you need to identify or your wondering their worth.

 The 5th printing is in good shape. No where as clean, or pristine, as the 1st printing. Yellowing of pages, bends & folds. Still...a nice copy to have!

My inner teenager is always jazzed to look upon this gems. Takes me back to great times discovering the game with friends.

I'll leave you with a bonus...here's a better look at the covers of the 1st print...with the art in perfect condition! Excelsior!!

 

Dungeons and Dragons: Dave Trampier print

 

Back in 2022 I had the good fortune of purchasing this brilliant print of a Dave Trampier painting from none other than Tim Kask himself. It's taken me a while to blog about it...

July of '22 I noticed a sale on FB, posted by Jim Wampler. Yup...he of Dungeon Crawl Classic, Mutant Crawl Classic, fantastic artist & best bud of the "Curmudgeon in the Cellar" Tim Kask. 

FOR SALE: This is a 2/2 print made from a Dave Trampier painting originally done for The Dragon #11 in 1976. The painting includes caricatures of the TSR Periodicals staff, including Gary Gygax, Tim Kask, Jake Jaquet, Rob Kuntz, Dave Trampier, David Sutherland, Tom Wham, and Joe Orlowski.

The image was used on the back cover of The Dragon #11, and by TSR as a Christmas card that same year. The original painting hung in Tim’s basement for decades, and was sold to a collector a few years ago on the condition that Tim could make two prints of it first. The 1/2 print now resides in the same spot on Tim’s basement wall the painting once occupied, and with this auction the 2/2 print could hang on your wall.

The long & short of it? Bought the print from Tim. Hangs on my wall & makes me smile everytime I walk into the room! 

Tramp's my far and away favorite D&D artist. Thanks to Tim & Jim I own a bit of D&D history.

Here's some pics...

My copy The Dragon magazine #11 from December of 1977. The original TRAMP painting was on the back cover.

I was so jazzed the day it arrived.

TRAMP's initials in the lower right corner.

 The print after having it professionally framed.

That's not where the awesomeness ends, people! Tim sent along a note commemorating the sale. I almost flip my whig whenI realized the note was written on Tim's original letterhead from his time as THE editor of The Dragon magazine!

I still can't controll my fan boy enthusiasm! Thanks again Tim & Jim!

'Till next time.

EXCELSIOR 

1979 Dungeons and Dragons Basic box set 4th printing Estate Sale find!!

 And a fine late summer day it is! Back after a lengthy hiatus...ready for some D&D fun? Here goes...

I noticed (a couple days ago) that an nearby estate sale had the Holmes Basic box set for sale. I hemmed and hawed over going. "Too early. Too much to do. Don't want to stand in line." The usual excuses.

I did finally decide to "give it a go". Showed up just before the doors opened. I kept telling myself "...if there's too big a line I'm not waiting'. Line was small. 10:00am and the doors opened. I jumped from my truck & made my way in.

I had kind of memorized what the surrounding shelves had on them. Didn't see it at first. Looked on the other side of the room. Then I spied it. The estate sale folks had put another box on top of it! My luck! A couple of other people were looking for it too. I swooped in and grabbed my prize. I could hear somebody asking a worker "Hey. Where's that D&D game at?"

I could tell right away this was one of those "American Pickers" moments. Box was really clean. Bright vibrant colors. Paid the $10 asking price!!

Jumped back in my truck to open it & really see what I had stumbled upon!

I raced back home to get to my computer. With the help of the brilliant "Acaeum.com" I was able to determine that it is a 4th printing from 1979. Picture on the back of the box shows the contents which include the original basic dice.

This has the dice alright. Still in the unopened bag!!

This happened to be a lucky day for me. Did feel kind of bad for the guys who were also looking for this, but I've been on that end plenty of times myself. Glad I wasn't able to talk myself out of going this morning!

Original Dungeons & Dragons: The source of all the fun.

 Original Dungeons & Dragons: The source of all the fun 

Back for the 1st time this year! Illness & covid-19 really changed priorities this year. I'll keep this short & sweet. 2 major acquisitions...this being the first.

So...I finally took the plunge& invested in the "Original Dungeons & Dragons". The White Box set & the 5 additional Supplements.

At some point it was inevitable. Having started out with The Basic Holmes Blue book & AD D&D I always wanted to see the "Source"...the Original Dungeons & Dragons! Just to read the original version put forth by Sir Gary Gygax. To get a more of a feel for what Dave Arneson was playing in snowy Minnesota! 

Anywhoo...haven't processed it yet so no analysis of its merits. Just dang happy to have it! Bought from various sources across the Interwebs! Enjoy the pics!

I will say I was pleasantly surprised by the art. Each supplement seems to have an improvement in the artist...and the addition of David C. Sutherland III was a game changer. Kudos to Gary & Tim Kask for using more of Dave's art! I noticed how some of the monsters from the supplements were transferred to The Monster Manual exactly as it appeared here!

Also was very moved to see the very 1st Dungeon example that players were introduced to...

And lastly...the box set I bought was in need of a little repair. Had to fix some torn sides & crushed corners! Thankfully youtube can walk you through anything short of brain surgery!!

A bit of TLC and viola!!

Yes sir!! Who knows...maybe I'll enjoy this version of the game so much that I drop all others? Anybody out there prefer the Original version over all others?

Hopefully I'll be back soon...and show off the other major D&D treasure I picked up recently!!

Till then..."Up the Irons!!"

EXCELSIOR

  

Dungeons & Dragons Ebay treasures: 4 great items from "The_Collectors_Trove" auction

 

Holiday greetings to my faithful readers! Just a quick entry on a otherwise gloomy Sunday afternoon!

An auction on Ebay ended last Sunday..."The_Collectors_Trove" had an auction of some old D&D related items...from some of the most illustrious names from TSR! Long story short...I won 4 on them!

A print from Darlene's collection of a fantasy map she did for "The Domains of Ancient Stuard" from 1980. The original hand drawn map is what made Gary Gygax decide that Darlene would be the artist to design the "Greyhawk" maps!

Next up is a fantasy art print of "Waterfall Castle" by the late great David C. Sutherland III...from the artist personal collection! Dave was perhaps the most prolific artist from the golden age of D&D art.

And lastly...2 items from the TITAN board game created by Jason B. McAllister & my personal fav artist...Dave Trampier! Grogonstar Titan board game notes & Newsletter with multiboard rules from 1980...and the TITAN War I button, created by TRAMP for Gen Con XIII in 1980! This  button for Titan's debut at 1980's Gen Con convention in Lake Geneva! Always stoked to pick up any piece of TRAMP's art!

Hope I didn't outbid any of you! Did anybody else pick up some treasures from that auction? There was some incredible stuff for sale!

Anywhoo...hope you all have a safe & incredible Christmas! Happy Holidays & see you all again soon!

EXCELSIOR 

Ps...I almost forgot...all 4 items came with certificates of authenticity! Bonus!

Dungeons & Dragons Postcards : Just in time for the holidays!

 Two blog post in as many days! 

Greetings again...just a brief entry to pass some time on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I don't know where I came across these new D&D postcards (they were just released this month)...but I'm a sucker for the early artist of TSR.

"Archival Art From Every Edition" the box proclaims. You can find these for $16+ on the net all day...they'd make a great Christmas gift to any old grognard!

100 cards...doubles, so 50 images. Lots of newer art...but plenty of the ancient masters like TRAMP, Sutherland, Otus & Dee.

I have to say its beautifully done...very snazzy box...all art crisp & clear. Just in case you need an idea for gift...or, you might request that some kind soul buy it as a "stocking stuffer". 

Lots of great images...I did see a guy online who had framed a bunch for his office. Grand idea!

Excelsior!