I recently bought an Outdoor Geomorphs for a friend. At first glance, it seemed to be a second print : lizard logo, 9008 code, identical to the copy I have in my collection.

However, I noticed a first difference on the dust cover, then a second one on the cover.

The first copy has no registered "R" after "Dungeons & Dragons" on the cover page (picture 1). The 4-page wrap-around glossy dust cover is printed in black ink (picture 2).
This version is then slightly different from the second print currently referenced due to the lack of the "R".

The second copy has the "R" after "Dungeons and Dragons" on the cover page, exactly as the current picture for the second print referenced (picture 3), and the 4-page wrap-around glossy dust cover is now printed in red ink (picture 4).

The first copy may be the new second print, the other one the third print and the print with the wizard logo (current 3rd print) should become the fourth print.

It might be interesting to get info about the ink color on the dust cover of the first and last print, in order to identify if it was random or if the first two prints were printed in black, and then in red ink.
At first glance, I have not noticed any visible difference between the black ink and red ink dust cover version, but it will need a closer inspection of the text.

grodog wrote:I don't remember seeing any Outdoor geos with the covers in black ink---makes me wonder if that wrap-around cover is a photocopy, perhaps?

That is a possibility, especially if it isn't on the super-glossy 11x17 paper.

Another indicator that might or might not be easily determined:

In 1977, those sorts of mass-produced things were done with ink, which would soak into the paper and be perfectly smooth.
The dry toner photocopy process puts the toner on the surface of the page and presses it down, but it never soaks into the fibers of the paper like the liquid ink would.
You *might* be able to see or feel the raised lettering (try under magnification, too!) if it is a photocopy on high gloss paper, especially if it is an older photocopy before modern microfine toner and high temp and pressure fusing process.

Serian wrote:

grodog wrote:I don't remember seeing any Outdoor geos with the covers in black ink---makes me wonder if that wrap-around cover is a photocopy, perhaps?

That is a possibility, especially if it isn't on the super-glossy 11x17 paper.

Another indicator that might or might not be easily determined:

In 1977, those sorts of mass-produced things were done with ink, which would soak into the paper and be perfectly smooth.
The dry toner photocopy process puts the toner on the surface of the page and presses it down, but it never soaks into the fibers of the paper like the liquid ink would.
You *might* be able to see or feel the raised lettering (try under magnification, too!) if it is a photocopy on high gloss paper, especially if it is an older photocopy before modern microfine toner and high temp and pressure fusing process.

I can confirm that the black ink version I have is printed on the same super-glossy paper, size 11x17. I will make a final inspection, but I'm nearly certain it is not a photocopy : same paper, same size, same printed appearance as the red ink version, but in black. Otherwise, the black version is evidently more readable, the red version turning almost to orange, not easy to read comfortably on white glossy paper. It would be interesting to have information for other prints to determine if there was a chronological logic, for example the first prints in black ink and the red ink for the later ones.

dwarf wrote:It might be interesting to get info about the ink color on the dust cover of the first and last print, in order to identify if it was random or if the first two prints were printed in black, and then in red ink.
At first glance, I have not noticed any visible difference between the black ink and red ink dust cover version, but it will need a closer inspection of the text.

My first printing Outdoor Geomorphs pack (Item Code F1005) has the orange/red glossy wraparound.