Something I've always wanted to know: Is collecting Print Runs an option for you?

Please post opinions on this topic. Personally, I would never consider collecting specific print runs other than maybe first prints (as an option for the future). I just can't get comfortable with the thought of spending my money on doubles of items I already own, only because they have the ISBN in a different place (for example).

deimos3428 wrote:I wasn't really sure how to answer this one, so I didn't.  Did you mean intentionally?

Not intentionally. Are you actively seeking new print runs? Like, writing to sellers on eBay and asking about the print run etc. ... Then maybe you should vote "die-hard print run collector". If not (yet), maybe the "consider it in the future" might be your option?

Heh, heh... May I hedge like mad?



Personally, I'd split each publication into "editions", then "print runs" within editions.

In general, significant changes in the publication (new cover or altered content) are more worthy of inclusion on my "may be of interest" list than a simple change of edition or print run.

(Treating U.S., U.K., etc., editions separately, of course...).



The other exceptions here are probably based more on condition (e.g. would buy a near-mint 2nd/3rd printing of "Greyhawk" to go along with a tatty 1st/2nd, but not give the latter away- which might be the case were the printings reversed) or rarity (e.g. will happily collect all the UK manual printings) more than actual print run.



The overarching factor, however, is budget...



(Good question).

harami2000 wrote:Personally, I'd split each publication into "editions", then "print runs" within editions.
In general, significant changes in the publication (new cover or altered content) are more worthy of inclusion on my "may be of interest" list than a simple change of edition or print run.
(Treating U.S., U.K., etc., editions separately, of course...).

That is exactly my philosophy. I am not a print run junkie, but a major differency in the cover (like 1E DM screens or record sheets) or softcover / hardcover editions (like 2E Player Option or novels) are very interesting to me.

I like the distinction between "edition" and "print run" (edition -yes, print run - no). Though, technically they are all different print runs, of course.

I collect different prints, but mostly non-TSR stuff. If I get a printing of a module I don't have, in a lot for example, I'll keep it, but I don't search them out. I did get a massive lot of common modules that were printed in the UK, but I haven't had time to sort thru them yet.

I like this question.



If the difference in print runs is significant enough (to me, at least), I'll actively seek it out. I'm talking things like a shift from wizard to face logo or three line angled banner vs. two line. I have yet to bid on an item because of ISBN placement.



Actually, part of the motivation for this is that I'm such a cheap-o that I'm not willing to hike up my max bid to get items that I still need (I'll get that reasonably good copy of GDQ1-7 for under $15 one day, by god! - including shipping, of course). So, looking for different print runs keeps me collecting.



The other motivation has to do with how I got started with collecting. Years ago I came across the red cover version of X1. It was surprising to me. I had never even known that that version of the module existed - and such a familiar module at that. So I started collecting and the interest in small (or not so small) changes with print runs was awakened - and it's the thing I find most interesting about The Acaeum.

I'm interested in owning the 1st prints simply because the older it is the more I tend to like the art, logos and design. For that reason the original X1 or DMG is more important to me than the updated version (although I keep a copy of both   ).

I'm most interesting in a slightly different version of editions/printings:  I want the textual variants (ents/hobbits --> treants/halflings, T1 content vs. T1 in T1-4, etc.).  For that reason I tend to try to collect first editions/first printings, but sometime I look for later versions too.  



I also like the tourneys (which are really the earliest editions/printings, I suppose), nd all things Greyhawk, of course  



bbarsh---if you end up deciding to unload 2e GH items and would consider trading, please ping me!