So, long story short- some guy I know has a shitload of old 1e D&D stuff. I never even knew they put this stuff in binders. But he's got multiple books- and by 'multiple', I mean 'an entire tough-box full'.
He basically inherited it from his brother, who passed away this year. The guy wasn't really good about taking care of himself- but the books are in pretty good condition. Discolored pages, but that's to be expected with something this old. I didn't even know some of this stuff existed, either. There's also some maps and boards and stuff in the box, and even some very old pewter minis that look like they got painted with a shotgun. I called dibs on this old bulldog-looking Space Marine Terminator in the box, though.
So, now we have the issue. This dude has basically planted this box at my feet and said "You can have it". Well, that's cool and all but I'm not a complete bastard. I didn't know this guy who owned it. I wouldn't get much use out of this stuff. I told him to hold on to it, and I'd pick it up later.
I don't know what this stuff is worth. I just know it's worth more than a high-five, and I don't feel right about taking it.
What would be the best way to appraise this? Should I just take it? I would sell it, and that would be a dick move. But I have no use for it.
What would YOU do?
Take it and find a good home for it. I'm sure there will be plenty of takers. Or let the brother throw it in the trash.
Quote from: Ashakyre;937287..Or let the brother throw it in the trash.
I would rather it not come to this. I don't believe any book belongs in the trash (unless it's written by Marx). I'd rather see the guy make a few bucks, but he has zero cares about this stuff and I am far too busy to even begin to start hunting a real passionate person over this (area where I live is mostly Pathfinder-oriented).
Take it. Buy the fellow a case of beer and a 26er of something nice, and then donate the books to a gaming group?
Or... sell the stuff, make sure you post here first, and then give the fellow 50% of the profit.
I'd impress upon him that they might have some real worth, so that he can decide if he still wants to just give it away. If he does after that, then, no problem.
There would have to be something pre-1e, in real good shape and old to be worth your time, but you never know. Tell the guy there is a collector market and it may be worth hundreds, it might be worth 2 cases of beer. If the guy doesn't want to be bothered, he doesn't.
The Acaeum is where the hardcore collectors live, but I'm sure people could give you advice here if you want to be bothered going through it.
Or auction it off as a Grab Bag, err Tough Box of Old Shit.
If you wanted and you're in the US, you can always write up what you have and send an email to an online store like nobleknight and see what they give you for it. Otherwise, if you could find some library or school nearby that has a gaming club, that'd make a cool donation.
Let your friend know that these things night be worth something on eBay. Offer to help him with posting the sale.
If he still wants you to have it, accept the gift and use it, or give it away, as you see fit.
You could try asking on a Facebook Group like this one (https://www.facebook.com/groups/RPGsalestrades/). There would certainly be buyers there, like me.
Honestly, I feel like such a noob. I didn't even know they actually did these books in 3-ring binders like this. I thought that was just some knock-off shit from Stranger Things.
I'm open to listening to more ideas. I just don't feel right about this stuff being junked, and I want the guy to get something out of it- even if it's a 'warm and fuzzy' about putting the stuff in loving hands.
See what kind of interest you'd get for it here. I'm not sure about the 3-ring binders of stuff, but I'm sure there'd be interest in some of it. I parceled off every old book I had not too long ago, including Amazing Engine stuff that, really, NOBODY plays, and sold it all on E-Bay. Not to be a dick, but you include the primo stuff with the not primo as part of the package. The guy's stuff gets new life somewhere, instead of languishing or being destroyed.
There were no 3-ring binder 1e AD&D products. The only TSR 3-ring binder products were the 2e "Monstrous Manual" BS thing.
Why don't you throw some pictures up? I can give you a better idea of what you've got.
If your friend cut them apart and 3-ring bound them, it's valueless.
Quote from: thedungeondelver;937336There were no 3-ring binder 1e AD&D products. The only TSR 3-ring binder products were the 2e "Monstrous Manual" BS thing.
Why don't you throw some pictures up? I can give you a better idea of what you've got.
If your friend cut them apart and 3-ring bound them, it's valueless.
They aren't with me, but when he comes over for New Year's Eve, I'll see if he can bring them.
I distinctly remember seeing at least 3 bindered products, and I know for sure one was a Monster Manual. A lot of the other stuff was paperback and may be missing covers. I don't think any of this is high-dollar, but someone's gotta want it.
EDIT: I just realized I might be the last guy to use book covers on my gaming books...
So, the version of Basic and Expert with Erol Otis covers was three hole drilled and the 2e Monstrous Compendium was three hole drilled.
Anything else might have been done at home with a drill or it might all be illegal copies.
Rolemaster Standard System was three hole drilled but in the end I used page protectors. The paper is just too prone to ripping out of the binder.
I have a soft spot for 3 hole drilled game books for some reason. I remember a Dragon article where Gary Gygax proposed a 3 hole drilled second edition AD&D that would let expansion modules and errata be inserted as they came out.
The correct answer is (a) buy the dude some beer, then (b) send it to me for free.
How is this difficult? :)
Quote from: Crüesader;937286What would YOU do?
How much time do you want to spend on this project? Be honest.
Does this guy need cash? AKA, $100 would be meaningful to him?
If you are willing to toss a couple hours to this and you want to help him, here's a plan:
1) post pics of the shiznack in this thread when you get the stuff.
2) we will collectively appraise it and/or even bid on stuff.
3) you can bring back our appraisals to the bro and he can smartly sell the shiznack on eBay or to members here. Or you can do it and split the proceeds.
If you want the easy plan, do this:
1) scavenge anything you and your crew like out of the box
2) hand the remains of the box to one of those eBay seller stores, tell them its all crazy rare collector shit, then they can send the bro the money once it sells.
My advice is not to feel guilty about. If it was a woodgrain OD&D set or any one of a dozen rares, yeh I would say ethically you need to sit down with the guy and explain what he is giving up.
But even a trunkful of 1e will be worth only low hundreds at best and it will take a lot of labor to realize that. My advice is not to worry about if there are any truly valuable item in the collection , separate them out and talk about those. Also post pic or a list and I and I am sure others here will help point out the good stuff.
Quote from: Krimson;937291Take it. Buy the fellow a case of beer and a 26er of something nice, and then donate the books to a gaming group?
Or... sell the stuff, make sure you post here first, and then give the fellow 50% of the profit.
This. Probably the best thing you can do. YOU know the value of it, and if you want to do good by him, but won't use it, sell it and make sure he gets some of the income.
Quote from: Crüesader;937286So, long story short- some guy I know has a shitload of old 1e D&D stuff. I never even knew they put this stuff in binders. But he's got multiple books- and by 'multiple', I mean 'an entire tough-box full'.
He basically inherited it from his brother, who passed away this year. The guy wasn't really good about taking care of himself- but the books are in pretty good condition. Discolored pages, but that's to be expected with something this old. I didn't even know some of this stuff existed, either. There's also some maps and boards and stuff in the box, and even some very old pewter minis that look like they got painted with a shotgun. I called dibs on this old bulldog-looking Space Marine Terminator in the box, though.
So, now we have the issue. This dude has basically planted this box at my feet and said "You can have it". Well, that's cool and all but I'm not a complete bastard. I didn't know this guy who owned it. I wouldn't get much use out of this stuff. I told him to hold on to it, and I'd pick it up later.
I don't know what this stuff is worth. I just know it's worth more than a high-five, and I don't feel right about taking it.
What would be the best way to appraise this? Should I just take it? I would sell it, and that would be a dick move. But I have no use for it.
What would YOU do?
Search recent sales on Ebay and tell the dude. But like others have said, we're talking a few hundred tops.
Quote from: Crüesader;937286So, long story short- some guy I know has a shitload of old 1e D&D stuff. I never even knew they put this stuff in binders. But he's got multiple books- and by 'multiple', I mean 'an entire tough-box full'.
He basically inherited it from his brother, who passed away this year. The guy wasn't really good about taking care of himself- but the books are in pretty good condition. Discolored pages, but that's to be expected with something this old. I didn't even know some of this stuff existed, either. There's also some maps and boards and stuff in the box, and even some very old pewter minis that look like they got painted with a shotgun. I called dibs on this old bulldog-looking Space Marine Terminator in the box, though.
So, now we have the issue. This dude has basically planted this box at my feet and said "You can have it". Well, that's cool and all but I'm not a complete bastard. I didn't know this guy who owned it. I wouldn't get much use out of this stuff. I told him to hold on to it, and I'd pick it up later.
I don't know what this stuff is worth. I just know it's worth more than a high-five, and I don't feel right about taking it.
What would be the best way to appraise this? Should I just take it? I would sell it, and that would be a dick move. But I have no use for it.
What would YOU do?
Take it, sell it, split it 50-50 with the guy. Everyone wins.
Quote from: Crüesader;937348I distinctly remember seeing at least 3 bindered products, and I know for sure one was a Monster Manual. A lot of the other stuff was paperback and may be missing covers. I don't think any of this is high-dollar, but someone's gotta want it.
Unless he actually rebound coverless books into binders, it's probably the 2e Monstrous Manual. You should definitely take some pictures so the items can be identified and appraised.
Let them know it might be worth something. If they're interested - tell them you'll split the difference on anything you don't keep and decide to sell. They are *offering* it to you after all. If they show interest - then it's time to negotiate things, because now it's all in good-faith.
I had a similar situation when my next-door neighbor had a garage sale and I went over to say hi and ask how things were going. She had a bunch of books for sale - all listed for 25-cents.
Among the pile, the hardcovers still had their jackets, two first-edition copies of Dune, one copy of T.E. Lawrence's 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' with a macked-up jacket but in damn near perfect condition.
I freaked out a bit and told her what they were possibly worth. She didn't care, they were her husbands and just lying around the house in boxes. So obviously my 75-cent purchase felt *really* good. (subsequently - I gave the Seven Pillars book and original movie soundtrack on vinyl to a mentor of mine - who turned me on to T.E. Lawrence years earlier. Never seen him cry until that moment. I kept the Dune copies).
So the decision we've reached- he's going to let me take it to the FLGS and and offer it like a sort of 'auction' and after the weekend give away anything that people just aren't willing to buy. Objective- get enough for us to grab a plate at the steakhouse. I'm down for some Texas Land & Cattle.