D&D - Original Woodgrain Box (1st Printing)

Pictures shown are of the actual item you will receive, we can also provide a nice video upon request.

A gem of this renown hardly needs an introduction…

This is it, the end-all be-all of gaming collectibles, a 1st edition, 1st printing copy of the original fantasy roleplaying game: Dungeons & Dragons. Only about 1000 were reported to have been produced and each one was hand-assembled in Gary Gygax’s kitchen in Lake Geneva back in 1974. There is quite simply no other item that better captures a collector’s devotion than owning one of these small, unassuming brown boxes.

This printing features the horizontal box striations seen only on the original 1974 printing and the interior covers of all the books have no printing notices of any kind; The classic hallmarks of the true 1st printing. Other noteworthy features of this printing include the references to Hobbits and Ents on page 9 of the Men & Magic book and the "homage" that the cover art of the box and the Men and magic book paid to Dr. Strange issue #167. Truly this collector's piece offers every talking point you could wish for to impress all audiences from seasoned collectors to the newest of neophytes.

Condition Notes:

We at Noble Knight Games have handled many of these true gems in Dungeons and Dragons collecting, and while the condition we were regrettably forced to put on this item is correct in its most technical sense, it undersells just how stellar of a condition that this copy is for its age.

Box - VG – while there is a large scratch in the box bottom running approximately 2.5 inches up from the lower edge, and other smaller ones across it, the wear to the edges is light, the corners all remain intact, and though one side has a dent in it, the cover sheet is one of the cleanest we have ever encountered, as is the logo box on the side. This means that VG is the technically correct grade, it is of superb quality for this item.

Book #1 - VG – This book has only a few crucial flaws that weigh it down, an otherwise excellent copy of this iconic book. There are brown stains on the back cover, a few other stains throughout, and a name on the inside of the cover, yet the cream color of the paper is bright in a way not typically seen in these books and the edges of the pages are all still machine-sharp as if printed yesterday. The staple holds tight with no sign of the rusting that has doomed so many other copies. The grade belies a truly outstanding copy of this book.

Book #2 - EX – This book is truly remarkable for its condition. The paper is clean, the colors are bright and the edges are crisp. There is only a small spot of rust on the lower staple and a name inside the front cover, but otherwise the book is truly outstanding with nary a flaw.

Book #3 – VG – This book has one regrettable flaw, a large grease stain on the back cover that bleeds into a few of the pages. Aside from this stain however, the color is strong, the edges are straight and the staples are tight.

Reference Sheets - VG+ - These few pages are creased across one corner, but are otherwise as flush as the day they were printed. There is some light staining around the edge of the pages, but in sum these sheets are superb for their age.

While the actual conditions play this copy down it is easily one of the nicest copies, we have had the good fortune to see, and to look past it purely for its condition would be a grave error to the serious collector. With each passing year, this item only becomes rarer, so seize the opportunity to make it your own now, lest the chance of a lifetime pass you by…