MOTHER LODE : VEIN #1
The Inaugural DigNOTICE: Autographed items cannot be shipped to any address within California USA. I will not comply with their onerous law requiring autograph verification, testimonials, extensive long-term records, and 10x cost liability.
Bill Text - AB-1570 Collectibles: sale of autographed memorabilia.All images by Loxley, 150 dpi jpg from 600dpi scans of originals, created June 2017. Proprietary text is overlaid onto imagery, not on the actual items. Images are available in a Shared folder on Dropbox.
CommentaryAutographs: Most Booklets herein are autographed, but not Lots 05 and 14-18 (all indicated).
Guidon Games: Don Lowry, Gygax's wargamer associate in Evansville IN, published his early wargame titles as well as the famous Chainmail. Don moved to Maine and Gary, needing a publisher, created TSR. Several Guidon titles are presented herein.
Product Lists: Most booklets contain a list of available products, and TSR's promotes "Swords and Sorcery wargaming" with their new Dungeons & Dragons game. These rare glimpses of the era are highlights of all these products.
01-02 Chainmail: Two legendary artifacts from the dawn of RPG gaming, used by the Kuntz brothers c.1970-78. History: The first published "in-house" club rules set for the Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association and the Castle & Crusade Society provided the combat system for the first D&D games. Created by Jeff Perren and first appearing in the "Domesday Book" newsletter, the published version (revised & developed by Gygax, now the lead author) contains a "Fantasy Supplement" codifying new influences of magic & monsters on conventional medieval warfare.
04-5, 15-18 Warriors of Mars hoard (7.7 copies)
The first is autographed and the second lot (a set of 3) was Gary's, with CoA but no signatures. The last four are not autographed and are from other sources. I wanted to revise the game and have original sets to use for conventions, but the project never happened, alas. So if some of these do not sell, I'll keep that on my to-do list. Handwritten Prices: A known feature of the WoM catalog (inside back cover) is that the price for a dice set is often changed, hand-written as 2.50 over the 1.75 printed.
08-09 Boot Hill rulebooks
Each bears both Gygax and Blume personalizations (to me) and signatures. I caught them both in a good mood, and got them to both sign on the front page (nearly unheard-of), since it was for me. Brian often signed nothing but his name, so I found his added comments both remarkable and welcome.
Detailed Lot Descriptions01 Chain1 MIN: 1000
Chainmail, 1st edition (Guidon 1971), 48 pg + fold-out charts+ cover, autographed
Fair condition, well-used. Pen mark on front cover, page 2 (contents) is loose from binding, other pages may have dog-ears, edge wear, and occasional supplemental hand-written notes (clarifications arising in play) written by Kuntz or Mentzer.
Actually used in Chainmail games old and new by Kuntz, Gygax, and Mentzer.
Rob Kuntz autograph on Front Cover & page 2; Red stamped "Robert J. Kuntz TSR Rules" inside front cover. Autographs & personalization messages from Gary Gygax and Jeff Perren (authors), both to Frank (Mentzer).
02 Chain2 MIN: 750
Chainmail, 2nd edition (Guidon 1972); 44 pg +cover, autographed
Good condition, used. Lettering on front cover in ink, "Terry Kuntz (LGTSA)" (Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association); pages 19-22 (center signature) loose from binding with resultant edge wear; other pages clean, no writing, no dog-ears or tears, no staple rust.
Autographs & personalization messages from Gary Gygax and Jeff Perren (authors), both to Frank (Mentzer). Name "Frank" handwritten in ink on page 1 of Fantasy Supplement.
03 C&R MIN: 250
Cavaliers and Roundheads (Tactical Studies Rules 1973), 1st printing, 36 pg +cover, autographed
TSR's first product, Excellent near-new condition, slight darkening on spine, no rust.
Autographs & personalization messages from Gary Gygax and Jeff Perren (authors) on page 1, both to Frank (Mentzer).
04 WoM1 MIN: 750
Warriors of Mars (Tactical Studies Rules 1974); 56 pg, autographed
Fair condition cover, heavy dirt & wear; VG/Exc contents, darkened but no writing, folds, or tears.
Autographs from Gary Gygax and Brian Blume (authors) & personalization (Gygax). Note: Gary refused to sign on page 1 since Brian had signed it "too large" (his words), so he named me explicitly and referred to page 2 for his full signature. I signed it below that.
05 WoM3 MIN: 1000
Warriors of Mars (Tactical Studies Rules 1974); Gygax 3-pack * Not Autographed
Original Collectors' Trove CoA included with all 3 (all signed by Gary's widow with a reproduced signature of Gary's). None of the items bear any autographs. The price change is in the two clean copies, but Gary's work copy (#3) is unmarked, as it was in his office when all the ‘for sale' copies were changed.
005.1: WoM, just a hair from sheer Mint. Darn close, but teeny corner dinks.
CTrove CoA 00864, 6/19/11
005.2: WoM, visible cover tear across "S" of Mars; otherwise as clean as #5.1.
CTrove CoA 81 of 93, 8/6/10
005.3: WoM, chopped. Missing 6 sheets (pages 1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14); p16 crossed out with blue pencil (combat levels). No other marks; no staples; all sheets cut as individual pages. CTrove CoA 01083 12/11/11
06 GH2 MIN: 200
Greyhawk (Tactical Studies Rules 1975), 68 pg; 2nd printing, autographed
Excellent condition, bright color, slight spine & edge dirt/wear, slight staple rust (no bleeds). Gygax inscription on page 1 " for Frank Mentzer
" (a Gygax smileyface!), Gygax & Kuntz autographs.
07 BM1 MIN: 150
Blackmoor (Tactical Studies Rules 1975), 60 pg; 1st printing, autographed
G/VG condition; cover dirt, spots, marks, back cover crease. I bought this from Rob back in the mid-'80s. The remarkable inscription (to Bob Kuntz) indicates that Arneson was not yet familiar with Rob. The TSR RULES stamp image in red adds a very special provenance. BONUS: Includes 7 slips of yellow paper, each about 4.25 x 7", each bearing a hand-drawn image in multiple colors. Rob Kuntz drew these in the early 1970s, apparently using them in games. (Imagery altered to prevent reproduction.)
08 BH1 MIN: 500
Boot Hill (Tactical Studies Rules 1975), 1st printing, 34 pg +chart, autographed
Near-Mint condition; all perfect except slight lightened area back cover top.
Gygax and Blume (authors) signatures, both personalized to Frank Mentzer.
09 BH2 MIN: 500
Boot Hill (Tactical Studies Rules 1977), 2nd printing, 34 pg +chart, autographed
VG/Exc condition; spine dirt/scuffs, slight staple rust. Gygax and Blume signatures, both personalized to Frank Mentzer.
10 SS1 MIN: 200
Swords & Spells (Tactical Studies Rules 1976), 1st printing, 48 pg, autographed
Good condition play copy; dirt & wear, rust on staples, starting to separate from cover. Gygax personalization "for Frank Mentzer, an old pal" and autograph.
11 SS2 MIN: 200
Swords & Spells (Tactical Studies Rules 1977), 2nd printing, 48 pg, autographed
Exc condition, bright color, slight dirt, slight rust on staples; previous owner name stamped inside front cover. Gygax personalization "Frank, an excellent system, eh?" and autograph.
12 (omitted): A kobold stole this item and left it where he died, in Vein #2.
13 DGUTS MIN: 100
Don't Give Up the Ship (Guidon 1972), 1st printing, 50 pg+charts, autographed
Gygax & Arneson before D&D, with co-author Carr. Exc/NM condition, very light creases, great color & staples. Mike Carr signature pg 1.
14 Trac MIN: 100
Tractics (Guidon 1971), 1st printing, boxed set; no autographs
Guidon's earliest products bear their Evansville address and this distinctive shiny black finish, also used for some larger boxed wargames. The box top has superficial chipping (common to this finish), but is otherwise pristine; no broken corners, tape, or other flaws. The standard box-bottom is taped on the sides for reinforcement, not repair (smart given the component weight). The interior components are in mint unused condition, with the catalog sheet plus all 3 errata sheets.
15 WoM2 MIN: 400
Warriors of Mars (Tactical Studies Rules 1974), 56 pg, no autographs
Exc condition, slight dirt, no staple rust; FM initials page 1.
16 WoM4 MIN: 400
Warriors of Mars (Tactical Studies Rules 1974), 56 pg, no autographs
Near Mint condition except for previous owner's ¼" inked rune page 1 top right.
17 WoM5 MIN: 350
Warriors of Mars (Tactical Studies Rules 1974), 56 pg, no autographs
VG/Exc condition, slight cover dirt, no rust; price sticker front cover topright, previous owner signature below that. Without cover issues, Exc/NM overall.
18 WoM6 MIN: 250
Warriors of Mars (Tactical Studies Rules 1974), 56 pg, no autographs
Would be VG/Exc but for one odd but serious issue. A device of 1" radius bite created dents in outer 10 pages each side, actual tears in outermost. All quite clean, no stains, nothing missing; just oddly punctured. Discounted thus.
19 Tri MIN: 75
Tricolor (Tactical Studies Rules 1974), 50 pg, Rob Kuntz handwriting
Well-used play copy; heavy cover dirt, slight tears on spine. Used by Rob Kuntz 1974-76, but Napoleonic wargaming fell aside to the new D&D craze. Not autographed per se, but he hand-lettered his name on front cover top right.
020 Panzer MIN: 100
Panzer Warfare (TSR Rules 1975), 22 pg, autographed
Exc/NM condition, slight edge & spine fading. Autographed pg 1 Brian J Blume. (Almost no other signed copies known to exist.)
021 BM9 MIN 100
Blackmoor (TSR Rules 1979), 9th printing, 60 pg, autographed
Exc condition, very slight cover dirt, slight staple rust. Arneson dated autograph 2/99 page 1; numbers penciled pg 1 topright.
022 EWiz MIN 100
Eldritch Wizardry (TSR Rules 1976), 1st printing, double autograph
VG cover, contents NM. Front cover stains, dark streak on rear; no tears or folds. Gygax autograph pg 1, Kask (editor) autograph next to his name (Foreword).
023 GDH MIN 75
Gods, Demi-gods & Heroes (TSR Rules 1976), 1st printing, autographed
Exc condition, slight cover dirt, pen checkmark back cover bottom left. Robert J Kuntz autograph on front page.
Random EventsTSR's in-house newsletter began informally in the Dragon Publishing building, May 1980. The new Personnel department (created after they had 75+ employees), featuring "Chainmail" author Jeff Perren, took over a year later. Company growth brought more changes in style and content, and many photographs offer unique glimpses of everyday life.
This three-year collection of more than 30 issues is nearly complete.
(Full archival scans have been made for posterity. Thanks for asking.)
Condition is generally New in almost every case.
BIDDING: First I will entertain bulk offers in two forms: either All of these in one blow, or one Division (A B C etc, several issues each). In that case I will quote a Minimum, and if two or more bidders are willing to meet that, the bidding starts. No sale will be finalized until the auction's 1 week term elapses. If no bulk deals are made, I will announce the onset of bidding for individual issues.
Issue Year Pages Notes
A. Dragon version: 8.25" x 7" (14" folded), from & by Dragon Publishing
RE vI #1 1980 8 May
RE vI #2 1980 8 June; w. Tom Wham cartoon
RE vI #3 1980 12 July; w. Wham boardgame "Corporate Structure"
(August missing)
RE vI #5 1980 12 September
RE vI #6 1980 16 October
RE vI #7 1980 12 November; w. local business flier
RE vI #8 1980 8 December; w. red/green Xmas stamps
RE vI #9 1981 6 January; 1 pg wine club ad
B. Personnel Dept. version: Full size (8.5x11"), stapled May-Sept
RE 5/13/81 1981 16 incl GenCon XIV ad (J.Dee art)
RE June '81 1981 4
RE July '81 1981 6
RE Aug '81 1981 5 incl 2 pg maps for GenCon (UW Parkside)
RE Sept '81 1981 8 incl. "The Inner Sanctum" by Gygax (first appearance)
C. Formal version v1: "Face" logo
The new in-house print shop (run by Tom Laughlin) brought a typesetting, no staples, good photo reproduction, and a new header & style
RE Oct. 15 '81 1981 6
RE Nov 15 '81 1981 4
RE Dec 15 '81 1981 8
RE Jan 15 '82 1982 6
RE Feb 15 '82 1982 4 incl. good Sutherland photo
RE Mar 15 '82 1982 4
RE Apr 15 '82 1982 6 Gygax photo p1
(May June July: missing)
RE Aug 16 '82 1982 12 many photos, incl. Rasmussen & John Ricketts*
RE Sept 15 '82 1982 14 many photos, incl. Elmore & TimTruman
Ricketts created Pacesetter in a spinoff, taking many TSR employees with him
D. Formal version v2: no corporate logo
RE Oct 20 '82 1982 14 Founders day issue; many photos, incl. Mentzer w. guitar
RE Nov 17 '82 1982 12 photos incl. Garry Spiegle (D&D Companion)
RE Dec 15 '82 1982 12 some photos
E. Formal version v3: "block" logo
RE Jan 19 '83 1983 10 many photos, incl. Parkinson & Christmas party
(Feb: missing)
RE March 1983 1983 10 photos incl. EGG, Kevin Blume, 50 new employees
RE April 1983 1983 8 incl. TSR UK staff photos
(May missing)
RE June 1983 1983 8 photos EGG, B.Blume, Ward, Zeb Cook
RE Sept 1984 1984 5 new amateur style: 2 copies; beige paper, 1 minor photo
