Does anyone have a DMG first print with a bit of a purple gloss on it? Covering the full cover to the inside cover? I added the photos as replies.

The second first print is much more muted, it really looks like part of the print, not modified. The one in the foreground just looks like it has more purple gloss.

Here are the photos.

My guess is that it's a  UV or other coating/finish on the cover vs. a variation in the cover's printing hue/coloration.

I'll root around and see if I have any like this, but it does look familiar....

Allan.

I appreciate the replies, thanks for looking into this. It is harder to see if you arent closer up.

Its uniform to the inside cover. I dont think its environmental. Someone may have taken some extra time to modify.

dbartman wrote in Purple Gloss (Pictures added):The vinyl covers did wrap around the inside, but if the color is consistent, even in the recessed areas, perhaps it was simply part of the color transfer process for this batch of the books.  They could have had too much magenta.

Or, a different formulation of the ink. Sometimes a printer will be forced to purchase ink from manufacturers other than their usual source, thus the formula for the ink may have had a bit more of something to it (I'm thinking a UV reactive component?)
Have you tried looking at it with a black light?

Do you know the provenance of the item? Check to see if it was ever used by an adventuring group subject to a total-party-kill by a purple worm. Passing through the digestive system of such a creature would explain the patina, & could supply additional clues. For instance, are the pages of the rest of the book covered in a corrosive, particulate slime?

An oversaturation of an ink would cause a color shift, and likely smear. As the covers appear to have similar color tones, I think that event may be ruled out.

The covers do seem to have a different texture (and I wouldn't think the wear I can see would affect it that much), so maybe a different cover material was used for each (doubtful, but possible), or the board was a different material when the cover was affixed to them. Does it appear that anything is strange about the endpaper on the purplish one? I'm wondering if it is something in the board bleeding through. Perhaps the adhesive leeching through? Just throwing out ideas at this point.

Does the purple appear to come off with a little gentle cleaning at all?