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1st printing,
Image courtesy of Kynan Connor, USA.

 D&D Woodgrain 3-Volume Set
Item code: na
Type: Boxed Set
Release: January 1974
Authors: Gary Gygax
Dave Arneson
Editor: Gary Gygax
Interior Art: Keenan Powell
Greg Bell
C. Corey
D. Arneson
T. Keogh
Format: Boxed Set
Rarity: Very Rare
# copies printed: 1,000 (1st)
2,000 (2nd)
Value @NrMint: Pending
ISBN: na
Cover Price: $10 on the cover of the box, $3.50 on each of the booklets
Print Runs: → 1st (1974)
2nd
3rd (April 1975)
4th (November 1975)
5th
6th (OCE)
Weight: 328 grams
Dimensions: width: 15.3 cm
height: 22.2 cm
depth: 4.1 cm
Collector's Arcana: This is easiley the most sought after item in D&D collecting, the 'holy grail'. It is the first official D&D item. 1,000 copies were printed and assembled by E. Gary Gygax and others in the basement of Gygax' house in Lake Geneva.
In April 2004, a copy in VG/NM condition sold for US $2,282.00. In November 2005, another copy in NM condition sold for US $4.039,00, which is a record for officially released D&D items.
The outer box shows a woodgrain pattern, which is why this item is also called the woodgrain D&D box. Graphic Printing Company, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, appears inside bottom of the rear cover in books 2 & 3.
All images and item description information courtesy of Kynan Connor, USA.

Print Run: Gary Gygax confirmed in the History Booklet of the Silver Anniversary Boxed Set a total print run of 1,000 for the first printing and a total of 2,000 for the 2nd printing. The first 1,000 copies were hand-assembled by Gygax & Co in the basement of Gary Gyhax' house.

Discuss this item with other collectors.
Box contents:
  • Outer box (see picture above).
  • "Men & Magic": booklet (see picture at the bottom, 21.7 cm x 14.3 cm = 8 9/16'' x 5 5/8'').
  • "Monsters & Treasure": booklet (see picture at the bottom, 21.6 cm x 14.3 cm = 8 1/2'' x 5 5/8'').
  • "The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures": booklet (see picture at the bottom, 21.4 cm x 14.0 cm = 8 7/16'' x 5 1/2'').
  • Loose-leaf rule sheets (see picture at the bottom).
Book 1: Men & Magic Book 2: Monsters & Treasure Book 3: The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures Loose-leaf rule sheets

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Impressum (Imprint)