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Post Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 9:53 am 
 

I came across a nice AD&D item that has been clearly stamped "TSR Library" which includes a Lake Geneva, WI address on the stamp.  Does anyone have any knowledge of what this may mean or how it may or may not effect the value or rarity of the item?  Many thanks!

  

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Post Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:40 am 
 

Any chance of a photo and more details? It will help date the item, and there are a few ex-TSR staff members here.


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Post Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 2:28 pm 
 

I attached a picture of a Monstrous Compendium with the Stamp on the side of the inside cover as well as on the cover page of the sheets.  Thanks!

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Post Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 3:10 pm 
 

Well, over to the gurus here on this one.
First thing that jumps out is the UK address on the product page vs. stamped library address. I’m not up on 2E, but was product published locally in the UK as well as the US, and then copies shipped back to HQ for archiving/reference purposes?

In regard to cost, I’d say there may be a bit of a premium over and above on account of it being a curio. It appears in great shape, very fine. I’ll assume it’s not missing any pages. Of course if we can establish the back story, or a hypothesis, it would increase the likelihood of a sale at a higher than normal price.

On the hole you’re trying to find a collector buyer, as opposed to someone who wants it for play. 2E isn’t a sought after games system outside of a few items and the Planescape setting. The Dark Sun MM May well fall into that category, but again, others here know far more than I.

Good luck and I hope it peeks someone’s interest here.


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Post Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 3:25 pm 
 

Beethovens_9th wrote in TSR Library:I came across a nice AD&D item that has been clearly stamped "TSR Library" which includes a Lake Geneva, WI address on the stamp.  Does anyone have any knowledge of what this may mean or how it may or may not effect the value or rarity of the item?  Many thanks!


Paul Stormberg and Frank Mentzer (among several others here) have sold a number of ex-TSR library items over the years.  They were basically part of the in-house TSR reference library, at some point, and were used for reference (in theory) when working on related products in the same world/setting/series/whatever.  

As I recall, when TSR was sold to WotC in the late 1990s, much of the TSR Library had already been cherry-picked over the years, and whatever remained was dispersed among local employees since it was too expensive to ship to Seattle.

Allan.


Allan Grohe (grodog@gmail.com)
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Post Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 4:26 pm 
 

We have several items in our collection with the same stamp or hand written in red pin.


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Post Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 2:03 pm 
 

Agreed. There were many methods of marking the reference copies. At one point there was even an old library style card checkout system.
I have many including ones with the same stamp. It is indeed an interesting curiosity and probably would add some interest to an item but limited as in many cases the marking method could easily be duplicated.

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Post Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 7:18 pm 
 

Thanks everyone!  It does add some curiosity and a bit of a story with the items in question.  I appreciate your input!

  
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