Since we're sharing...

In my middle school D&D club, there were a few guys with sticky fingers (i.e., they didn't just play thieves in the game). After being "relieved" of one hardcover and one module by older kids, both unsigned/unpersonalized, I took to writing my name on page 12 of all of my books. Needless to say, the next time I saw another guy with one of my books and he claimed it was his, I simply demanded that he turn to page 12 in front of everyone else... much to his chagrin. IIRC, he was suspended from the club for a month. LOL.

Worse than that, one of the people I currently play D&D with ran away from home when he was around 16. Did he leave his AD&D hardcovers behind when he realized they wouldn't all fit inside his "boogie bag"? Hell no! He cut the covers off, decided which pages were "essential" for playing the game, collated them, stuffed them in one big manila folder and went (un?)happily on his way. He still has the folder. It's quite a sight. Probably about 3/4 of the MM, half of the PHB, and some tables from the DMG.

jasonw1239 wrote:In my area a lot of AD&D players covered their book covers with clear Mactac vinyl to protect them.
I am sure that many collectors have encountered books like that over the years.

Did that with several of mine, mainly because thay were getting pretty worn.  Wasn't really concerned about resale or collectibility.  They were playing copies.

Still using them today!

Plaag wrote:I have a MM with all those TSR rub on transfers stuck on it.  Not sure if they can come off now, but then not concerned with it either.

ShaneG.

I found on the rub on transfers that if you apply normal scotch tape on top, they'll come right off.

I think you are probably out of luck with that one.  The adhesive has probably adhered to the fibers.  I've tried to peel off a portion on one of the glossy covered books before and it leaves a lot of residue!

I'll have to post a pic of a MM that I've done the laminate with...

Hi,

a well-know, long running educational UK childrens TV programme used to ALWAYS tell kids to cover their books in sticky backed plastic, to protect them.

Cheers,
Malc

Man, I'm surprised when I don't find a name written on the inside front cover of an AD&D hardcover.

I buy junk copies of the books at book stores and auctions for my players to borrow. (I keep a spare set of books in my car, too.  One less thing to worry about when I pack a bag for game night.) I'm debating adding my name to the already-signed ones, to start a running list of the books owners.

Maybe somebody will buy a PHB at an antique store a hundred years from now, look at the big list of names, and think "Who were these dorks who had to put their names on this book?"

This kind of stuff is my biggest pet peeve and worst nightmare in collecting. I hate opening a new purchase and seeing someone's name written on the inside that I overlooked when perusing it for purchase. I have a couple books with white-out splotches on the inside cover to hide the offending names!  

I don't really mind it so much as long as it's not excessive... A simple signature or small stamp.

If the book is in VGC or better it's no big deal.