Basic Box Set TSR1001 for Dungeons and Dragons Vintage TSR Gygax Holmes Edition 7th Print with B2 Keep on the Borderlands 2nd Print, Poor/Good/Incomplete

Item Details

This listing is for an original copy of the Holmes Basic Box Set for the Original Dungeons and Dragons game system created by Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax. This set was a revision of the original three-box set that was targeted at wargames. This version, edited by Dr. Eric Holmes, was designed to appeal to a wider audience. This amazing boxed set was released in 1979 by TSR, The Game Wizards, and helped usher in the great Role Playing Revolution that is still picking up steam! 

Please Note: This box set is not complete. It is missing the dice (if it had any), the randomizer chits, and the TSR catalog. 

Originally the box set included a 48-page rulebook, the classic adventure module B2 Keep on the Borderlands (Or B1 In Search of the Unknown), a 1979 TSR product catalog (neat stuff), and either a set of 5 polyhedral dice (d4, d6, d8, d12, & d20) or the Randomizer Chits that can be used as polyhedral dice. Yes, back in the day they were hard to come by. Now, well, you can get them everywhere! You might say they're ubiquitous. This set does not include the original dice or crayon to mark them.

This particular copy of the box set includes the box, B2, and the awesome Holmes blue monochrome rulebook with a sample dungeon, the Tower of Zenopus. 

Dungeon Module B2 Keep on the Borderlands. According to some sources this module had been adventured in by more people than any other module. It came with the Dungeons and Dragons Basic Set and was also sold separately.

This box brings back so many memories. I don't want to part with it but..... 

This set is part of the 7th print run with a first print of B2. It has artwork that was removed in the third and later prints (the mangy minotaur on page 20 (love him with his haunch of meat), Erol Otus's treasures on page 9, and a stirge on page 23. 

Description

From the back of the box:

YOU ARE HOLDING A FANTASTIC WORLD OF SWORDS & SORCERY ADVENTURES IN YOUR HANDS! IN DUNGEONS & DRAGONS YOU BECOME A MIGHTY WIZARD, A FEARLESS HERO, A STOUT DWARF, A CLEVER HALFLING OR ANY ONE OF A DOZEN OTHER ADVENTURERS READY TO EXPLORE THE MAZES AND LABYRINTHS OF A VAST AND DEEP DUNGEON - OR PERHAPS TREK THROUGH UNCHARTED WILDERNESS - IN SEARCH OF THE FABULOUS TREASURES AND MAGIC WHICH ARE HIDDEN THERE. BUT THIS WEALTH IS NOT EASILY GAINED, FOR TERRIBLE GUARDIANS LURK NEARBY; AND SUCH MONSTERS AS ORCS, OGRES, TROLLS, GIANTS, DRAGONS, AND EVEN WORSE MUST BE DEFEATED IN ORDER TO GAIN THEIR HOARDED TREASURE.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS IS THE ORIGINAL GAME OF FANTASY ROLE PLAYING. IT IS A TRULY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, FOR EACH PARTICIPANT ASSUMES A GAME PERSONA WHO GOES FROM ADVENTURE TO ADVENTURE, GROWING MORE POWERFUL AND CAPABLE WITH EACH SUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION. UNLIKE ANY OTHER GAME YOU HAVE EVER PLAYED BEFORE, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS WILL ALLOW YOU TO COMPLETELY UNLEASH YOUR IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY, WHILE STILL POSING INTERESTING GAME SITUATIONS AND ENDLESS CHALLENGES. COME AND VISIT OUT WORLD!

THIS BOX CONTAINS YOUR COMPLETE DUNGEONS & DRAGONS GAME:

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS GAME BOOK
COMPLETE INTRODUCTORY MODULE, "THE KEEP ON THE BORDERLANDS"
RANDOMIZER CHITS BOUND IN GAME BOOK

From the cover of B2:

This module includes a cover folder with maps and a complete description booklet to form a ready-made scenario for Basic Dungeons & Dragons. It has been specially designed for use by beginning Dungeon Masters so that they may begin play with a minimum of preparations. Within are many features to aid novice players and Dungeon Masters: legends, history and background information, a list of adventuring characters, tips on how to be an effective Dungeon Master, plus an interesting area for characters to base themselves in (the Keep) before setting out to explore the Caves of Chaos!

Condition

This vintage boxed set shows very light use but it was not stored properly. It is in Poor to Very Good condition. It does not look like it was ever used just stored away. Please see the various conditions of the individual components. This set does not include the original dice or crayon to mark them.

Individual Conditions:

Box: Poor condition. It is beat but still functions as a box.

The box is heavily indented, probably from a stack of books being stored on top of it. There is heavy corner rounding, one corner of the top of the box is torn through and another section along the middle as well. There are spots around the edge of the box back and the paper has bubbled a bit here and there. The image of the Red Dragon on the cover is still vibrant! Oh, I love that dragon.

Rulebook: Good condition.

The cover shows light corner rounding, edge wear, and moderate creasing along the fold. The staples are very rusty! More rust than metal. The rust has stained the surrounding paper. Large sections have been highlighted, there are a couple of small notes in pen, and pages 23-26 are loose but included. They pulled loose of the rusty staples. It does not look like the book was used very much.

B2 Keep on the Borderlands: Good to almost very Good. Probably never used.

The cover shows light creasing along the fold and light edge and corner wear. The map has a light rust stain in the fold. Very rust staples, moderae edgewear and corner wear. It is clean, no writing and all the maps are included.

TSR Catalog: This is missing. 

Please Note:

Please look at the pictures and contact me if you have any questions.

Most of my packing supplies are reused, so don't be too surprised if you have a combination of paper, airbags, and whatever else I have laying around.

I would be happy to wrap your gift purchase at no charge and write a personal note on the packing slip. Just add a note to the shopping cart at check-out. 

• Item Info/Title: Dungeons and Dragons Basic Box Set
• Publisher/Manufacturer: TSR
• Mfg. Code: TSR1001
• Mfg. Number: TSR1001
• Game System: Original Dungeons and Dragons (Basic)
• Author: Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, Eric Holmes
• Format: Box Set
  
• Year Published: 1979
• Series: Original Dungeons and Dragons 
• Dimensions: 9"x11"x1.1"
• Weight: 15 oz

#1121