AD&D 1e D&D Adventure Modules D&D Greyhawk Campaign D&D Judges Guild Publications D&D Novels D&D Reprints & Collectors Editions

Rebuilding My OSR D&D Library

You know those moments when you realise you made a stupid mistake sometime ago, and there’s no easy way to undo it, well I had one of those! It was a few weeks ago, which has led to rebuilding my OSR D&D library from scratch as of December 2021. About 10 years ago I sold off my last remaining D&D items from the 1980’s and now deeply regret it. This included early editions of AD&D Monster Manual, Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide and Fiend Folio. Also numerous classic modules in various states and conditions, the original complete Expert Set Box and even an old Original D&D “Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes” Supplement IV in mint condition. Sigh…

Rebuilding My OSR D&D Library with 10 AD&D Hardback Rulebooks and the 1979 edition of the Dungeon Masters Screen.
10 AD&D Hardback Rulebooks and the 1979 edition of the Dungeon Masters Screen.

As I previously wrote about in my initial Old School Dungeons and Dragons. post I’ve now been inspired to revisit the glory days from the 1980’s of D&D (and AD&D). As a result I now have about 56 assorted titles ordered and in transit to rebuild my collection from scratch (and that excludes PDF purchases and any Retro-Clone rules). It’s likely to hit 60 in the next week or so. And so now my credit card bleeds. So anyway this mass of shipments includes rulebooks, accessories, Goodman Games OARs, modules, novels and peripheral books. This is the first batch to arrive (about 80% of these landed on my doorstep early evening of Christmas Eve while a few had trickled in over the week prior). Around 31 or so are still in transit…

Rebuilding My OSR D&D Library with 1 AD&D Hardback Rulebook, The Rogues Gallery from 1980, Goodman Games Judges Guild Deluxe Collectors Edition from Kickstarter & 5 OAR hardcover books, and Rise of the Dungeon Master (graphic novel).
1 AD&D Hardback Rulebook, The Rogues Gallery from 1980, Goodman Games Judges Guild Deluxe Collectors Edition from Kickstarter & 5 OAR hardcover books, and Rise of the Dungeon Master (graphic novel).

Here’s a list of what’s in this batch of arrivals:

Official AD&D Rulebooks

  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual [2012 Premium Reprint of 1977 original]*
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook (1st Cover with Idol, 7th Printing) [1980 Reprint of 1978 original]*
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master’s Guide [2012 Premium Reprint of 1979 original]*
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Fiend Folio [1981]
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual II (3rd Printing) [1983]
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Unearthed Arcana (2nd+ Printing) [1985]*
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Wilderness Survival Guide [1986]
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeoneer’s Survival Guide [1986]
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Manual Of The Planes [June 1987]
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dragonlance Adventures [Oct. 1987]
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Greyhawk Adventures [1988]
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons The Rogues Gallery (2nd Printing) [1980]
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master’s Screen (1981 3rd Printing) [1979]

* The 4 books that had Premium Memorial Reprints after Gary Gygax’s passing I have 2 copies of each coming, one original early printing, and one of the reprint edition – as this latter (aside from collectability) is a better reading copy as I believe they have all collated errata updated in them.

Rebuilding My OSR D&D Library with 4 Greyhawk Adventures paperback novels (No. 1 to No. 4).
4 Greyhawk Adventures paperback novels (No. 1 to No. 4).

Goodman Games Publications

  • Judges Guild Deluxe Collector’s Edition (Volume I: Tegel Manor, Thieves of Fortress Badabaskor, Citadel of Fire)
  • OAR #1: Into the Borderlands (B1 Into the Unknown & B2 Keep On The Borderlands)
  • OAR #3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks (S3)
  • OAR #5: Castle Amber (X2)
  • OAR #6: Temple of Elemental Evil (2 Volumes: T1: The Village of Hommlet and T1-4: The Temple of Elemental Evil

See my Original Adventures Reincarnated post for more on the above OAR deluxe Hardcopy books from Goodman Games.

Detailed View of the Exterior (players side) of the Dungeon Masters Screen (a 4-panel and a 2-panel screen)
Detailed View of the Exterior (players side) of the Dungeon Masters Screen (a 4-panel and a 2-panel screen).

Official D&D Greyhawk Novels and Other Books

  • GA #1: Saga of Old City – Gord the Rogue (Gary Gygax) [1985]
  • GA #2: Artifact of Evil – Gord the Rogue (Gary Gygax) [1986]
  • GA #3: Master Wolf – Mika, Shaman of the Wolf Nomads (Rose Estes) [1987]
  • GA #4: The Price of Power – Mika, Shaman of the Wolf Nomads (Rose Estes) [1987]
  • Rise of the Dungeon Master – illustrated Edition (David Kushner & Koren Shadmi)
Detailed view of the Interior (the DM's side) of the Dungeon Masters Screen from 1979.
Detailed view of the Interior (the DM’s side) of the Dungeon Masters Screen from 1979.

How I’m Rebuilding My OSR D&D Library

I have especially found Noble Knight Games (USA) useful, as they are specialists in these sorts of old school RPG books, and (although too late for these orders) have recently heard of The Shop On The Borderlands (UK) who look to do similarly (albeit to a lesser degree). obviously I have also been hitting all the usual haunts like Amazon, EBay, ABE and a few others. I will look to post a further update in a couple of weeks once the next batch of books and supplements have arrived!

This is the start of the new bookshelf with these new arrivals Rebuilding My OSR D&D Library...
This is the start of the new bookshelf with these new arrivals…