Hi all!

Sorry if this has been posted before, but I've tried searching the forums to see if this has been up before, but alas.

A question: I'm looking to purchase some mint-condition copies of the original three hardbacks for first edition AD&D. I have some well-used copies of the orange spine versions and they still hold up reasonably well, though the binding for the DMG isn't 100%. I also bought copies of Oriental Adventures and the two Survival Guides way back, all in pristine conditions, but all with the well-documented binding issues, resulting in loose pages all over the place.

Anyway, to the questions:

1. Would it be correct to assume that such binding problems aren't an issue at all with the original three hardbacks in any edition?

2. From what I've gathered from Acaeum, the DMG went from stitched textblocks to glued with the seventh printing. Would it be preferable, from a durability standpoint, to purchase a pre-seventh printing copy or is that of little impact?

3. I can't find any corresponding changes (or even mentions of glued or stitched) on the Acaeum page for the PHB. Was the PHB always or never stitched?

Tszii wrote in Binding questions for first edition DMG/PHB/MM:I might be slightly off, but I believe the 1st print of the DMG and PH were stitched along with the first two prints of the MM. You can tell by the red and yellow stitches at the top of the spine. Honestly, I think, as far as durability - I wouldn't be too concerned. Any mint book should be treated well. If its mint, its really going to stay that way after you get it.  :)

Thanks for your reply! I assumed as much regarding the durability of the books, I just wanted to be sure before I invested in books that look nice on pictures but will fall apart when read and/or brought to the gaming table. I'll focus on the condition of the copy rather than the printing, then. I will use it for actual gaming, I just want a copy as near mint condition as possible.

According to, Acaeum, from the seventh printing and onwards, the textblock of the DMG is "no longer stitched, but glued (adhesive binding)".

Does anyone else here know what applies for the different printings of the MM and the PHB with regards to stitched vs glued textblocks?