Palace of the Vampire Queen (1976)

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Title: Palace of the Vampire Queen
Item Code: Dungeon Masters Kit - Number 1 (on cover), Dungeon Master Kit - Number One (on title page)
Type: Generic fantasy role-playing adventure
Copyright: 1976, first printing June 1976
Author(s): Pete & Judy Kerestan
Artwork: Judy Kerestan and Brad Schenck
Place of Publication: n/a
Printer: Jerry Wellfonder
Format: 23 single-sided sheets in black folder with red lettering
ISBN: n/a
Cover Price: n/a
Mass: 146g
Dimensions: length 30.1cm, width 22.7cm, thickness .3cm

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Believed by many to be the first printing of POTVQ, this example is distinguished from others by the presence of the black folder, the 23 singled-sided pages, and the clear presence of a grey grid line in the map portions of the module. Unfortunately, it isn't as easy as that. The grey grid lines, when examined closely, are composed of clearly defined tiny dots. Another indicator of print is the measurement from the top of the D in the word Dungeon and the bottom of the number 6 on the scale. This sample measeures 23.9cm.

[tfm]

Title: Palace of the Vampire Queen
Item Code: Dungeon Masters Kit - Number 1 (on cover), Dungeon Master Kit - Number One (on title page)
Type: Generic fantasy role-playing adventure
Copyright: 1976, first printing June 1976
Author(s): Pete & Judy Kerestan
Artwork: Judy Kerestan and Brad Schenck
Place of Publication: n/a
Printer: Jerry Wellfonder
Format: 23 single-sided sheets in black folder with red lettering
ISBN: n/a
Cover Price: n/a
Mass: 146g
Dimensions: length 30.1cm, width 22.7cm, thickness .3cm

Additional image(s):





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This example appears on the surafce to be indentical with one listed above, but there are some peculiar differences. At the bottom right-hand side of the title page is a toner mark or footprint about 2 x 2.5 cm square which is not present on the example above. Furthermore, the distance from the top of the D in Dungeon to the bottom of the number 6 in the scale is 24cm. When this page placed on top of the title page of the previous sample, the letters do not line up exactly, indicating a different print. Several of the pages, though not all, carry the toner footprint on the bottom right-hand side of the page. Also, the grey grid line waivers a bit on some of the map pages. Under closer examination the grey grid lines, which are made up of small dots, have lost their clear definition, indicating a later print.

[tfm]

Title: Palace of the Vampire Queen
Item Code: Dungeon Master Kit - Number One
Type: Generic fantasy role-playing adventure
Copyright: 1976, first printing June 1976
Author(s): Pete & Judy Kerestan
Artwork: Judy Kerestan and Brad Schenck
Place of Publication: n/a
Printer: Jerry Wellfonder
Format: 16 double-sided sheets plus cover sheet
ISBN: n/a
Cover Price: n/a
Mass: 78g
Dimensions: length 27.9cm, width 21.6cm, thickness .2cm

Additional image(s):




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Although the bibliographic information indicates a first print, it is widely believed that this printing follows the black folder. The new cover, the double-sided printing, and the weakening grey grid line do suggest a later effort. The D-to-6 distance on the title page is 23.8cm.

[tfm]

Title: Palace of the Vampire Queen
Item Code: Dungeon Master Kit - Number One
Type: Generic fantasy role-playing adventure
Copyright: 1976, first printing June 1976
Author(s): Pete & Judy Kerestan
Artwork: Judy Kerestan and Brad Schenck
Place of Publication: n/a
Printer: Jerry Wellfonder
Format: 12 double-sided sheets plus cover sheet
ISBN: n/a
Cover Price: n/a
Mass: 72g
Dimensions: length 27.9cm, width 21.6cm, thickness .2cm

Additional image(s):






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The new cover, the Zocchi label placed over TSR Hobbies, and the oscillating grey grid line suggest a later printing. The D-to-6 measurement is 23.8cm. Please note that several of the lines appear to be grey. The presence of grey in and of itself does not indicate print. It is, rather, the crispness of the grey line. Only the early black folder with the crisp grey grid line throughout can seriously be argued to be a first printing.

A Palace of the Vampire Queen with this cover is the last printing currently known to carry a reference to TSR.