The First Printing of the First Edition of Call of Cthulhu RPG

[Joshua Marquart]

I'd have searched the forums first to see if this was talked about, but there's no search feature.

Greg Stafford is selling all of his RPG stuff on eBay including the first printing of the first edition of CoC from back when he was president of Chaosium!
<a href="http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmrissariesQQhtZ-1">All his items</a>
<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/CALL-OF-CTHULHU-1st-edition-Petersen-Chaosium_W0QQitemZ8793566119QQcategoryZ1183QQssPageNameZWDVW QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem">
The First CoC RPG Box Evar</a>

[CPBelt]

Woah. Current bid is $500! :eek:

I used to have the 1st edition and am looking to get it back, but not at that price!

[Joshua Marquart]

FYI, there is a SIGNIFICANT difference between First Edition and THE VERY FIRST COPY EVER WITH SIGNED PROOF of First Edition.

[LoneWolfXXX]

This is so cool. That thing is gonna vanish for a LONG time once it gets nabbed off of Ebay. :o

[Thornhammer]

Holy *shit*.

-Thornhammer

[LoneWolfXXX]

Holy *shit*.

-Thornhammer

UN-holy shit, may be more suiting. Crazy. Wish I had the cash to throw down for this. :o

[Joshua Marquart]

What sucks is that none of the RPG gaming sites are picking this up as NEWS; I've been submitting it, heck I sent it to Slashdot.

This is historic news, man! People should be informed!

[mornelarme]

FYI, there is a SIGNIFICANT difference between First Edition and THE VERY FIRST COPY EVER WITH SIGNED PROOF of First Edition.

A proof signed by Stafford himself, and the boxed set is sold by him too... for me it is not a proof at all... Perhaps it is only a first edition, a basic one. And he just create a proof that is the very first copy, but who knows... no one, except Stafford himself ;)

It is not a manuscript copy, but a similar copy than a lot of other ones. No differences, except the fact that Stafford says it is the first copy :confused:

[Joshua Marquart]

A proof signed by Stafford himself, and the boxed set is sold by him too... for me it is not a proof at all... Perhaps it is only a first edition, a basic one. And he just create a proof that is the very first copy, but who knows... no one, except Stafford himself ;)

It is not a manuscript copy, but a similar copy than a lot of other ones. No differences, except the fact that Stafford says it is the first copy :confused:

1) It's not like Stafford (or anyone else) can claim that another copy is now the First Copy.

2) He was president at the time and very likely had in-company witnesses, and supposedly had a known reputation for taking the first copy of each product out of each box shipment and keeping it.

3) How many shrinkwrapped 1st Edition CoCs have you seen? I'm quite surprised that none of the RPG news organizations have picked this up; it's like Steve Jobs selling the first production Apple.

More Details at Yog-Sothoth.com (http://www.yog-sothoth.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=286&mode=flat&order=0&thold=-1)

[mornelarme]

I am just saying that this is not a real proof, only suspicion of this would be the first copy... A shrink is very very easy to make. Just take a look to D&D collector's item and you will see how many reshrinked items you could find.

And I am not saying this copy was not the very first one, but just that there is no irrefutable proof of this fact. And for this reason, I think the price is insane and not justified. Despite I am a CoC collector, I will never pay this kind of price (this price would have been more justified for this item for example http://cgi.ebay.com/Call-of-Cthulhu-Pagan-Pub-Courting-Madness-bonus_W0QQitemZ8791896151QQcategoryZ2546QQssPageNameZWDVWQQr dZ1QQcmdZViewItem )

It is just my point of view, but I think I am the only one with it :) Perhaps I am too suspicious, or perhaps not any naïve

[CPBelt]

It is just my point of view, but I think I am the only one with it :) Perhaps I am too suspicious, or perhaps not any naïve

No, I thought the same thing. If a guy buys into 'certificate' baloney then he has been watching too much Home Shopping Network. :D

[Joshua Marquart]

It is just my point of view, but I think I am the only one with it :) Perhaps I am too suspicious, or perhaps not any naïve

Wow, that is true uninformed paranoia.

Not only is this from Greg Stafford (who, by the way, was the freaking President and FOUNDER of Chaosium and stands to lose credibility by foisting off a bullshit item), but you need to look at who's bidding (http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=8793566119):

- John Kovalic (of Dork Tower fame)
- Frank Mentzer - one of the authors of of Original D&D and hte guy who runs every single GenCON Auction.
- Paul of Cthulhu (from yog-sothoth.com)

As well as a number of other very in-the-know collectors.

People are holding out bidding because it's eBay and items generally get bid up at the last day. I say this item will hit at least $2000 and be purchased by someone with some big bucks and a big RPG industry name. I guarantee it.

[mornelarme]

Wow, that is true uninformed paranoia.

Not only is this from Greg Stafford (who, by the way, was the freaking President and FOUNDER of Chaosium and stands to lose credibility by foisting off a bullshit item), but you need to look at who's bidding (http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=8793566119):

- John Kovalic (of Dork Tower fame)
- Frank Mentzer - one of the authors of of Original D&D and hte guy who runs every single GenCON Auction.
- Paul of Cthulhu (from yog-sothoth.com)

As well as a number of other very in-the-know collectors.


A lot of D&D collectors yes :) I have seen this. But if you look through ebay auctions and collector's item, you will see it arrived often that (even with well-known person and buyer/seller) the item is absolutely not what it is presented to be. The more recent case is for a ST1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/TSR-D-D-Up-the-Garden-Path-very-rare_W0QQitemZ8791973290QQcategoryZ44112QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ), from a recommanded seller. And this ST1 was not a complete original one :) And look at who have bid on it...
More info on acaeum (http://www.acaeum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3731)

A bidder list and a well-known seller (even the founder of Chaosium or the president of the USA hum hum yes, ok, very bad example) is not a proof. I am not saying "it is not the first copy, I am sure it is a swindle!" but I am only sceptic on , the reality of this item history, that's all ;)

[zomben]

A bidder list and a well-known seller (even the founder of Chaosium or the president of the USA hum hum yes, ok, very bad example) is not a proof. I am not saying "it is not the first copy, I am sure it is a swindle!" but I am only sceptic on , the reality of this item history, that's all ;)

So, basically you're calling Greg a liar.

[mornelarme]

So, basically you're calling Greg a liar.

No! Absolutely not! I don't know. For this price I think the doubt is allowed don't you think? I don't know Greg Stafford (nor the president of the USA). I just have been disappointed with a lot of transaction and got shafted , even with very very recommanded seller and with persons who seems very honest (for example with the founder and president of one of the most famous publisher in France, who I don't named)

[Broken]

No! Absolutely not! I don't know. For this price I think the doubt is allowed don't you think? I don't know Greg Stafford (nor the president of the USA). I just have been disappointed with a lot of transaction and got shafted , even with very very recommanded seller and with persons who seems very honest (for example with the founder and president of one of the most famous publisher in France, who I don't named)

So, rather than calling him a liar, you're simply saying that he's untrustworthy, and that his word isn't good.

You're allowed to be as distrustful, cynical, or paranoid as you want, but you need to be careful how you express yourself.

[Joshua Marquart]

I am just saying that this is not a real proof, only suspicion of this would be the first copy... A shrink is very very easy to make. Just take a look to D&D collector's item and you will see how many reshrinked items you could find.


He also states it is original shrinkwrap which has split on the side due to age.
You can prove original shrinkwrap - 1981 shrinkwrap is markedly different from "new" shrinkwrap - it's that crisp aged cellophane stuff instead of the new tight stretchy kind.

[mornelarme]

So, rather than calling him a liar, you're simply saying that he's untrustworthy, and that his word isn't good.

You're allowed to be as distrustful, cynical, or paranoid as you want, but you need to be careful how you express yourself.

I am just saying that the doubt is allowed :cool: That's all. Don't make me say what I didn't say :confused:
(perhaps my words are not the correct ones, but I am not an english speaking people, only french so I use the words I know :( )

Everyone could think what he wants. I just answered to this:

difference between First Edition and THE VERY FIRST COPY EVER WITH SIGNED PROOF of First Edition.

a proof signed by a seller (who ever he is) is not a proof. Then, the fact that he could be or not a liar, it is not the problem. I'd like to think he is not. But for this price, I would not take the risk.


You can prove original shrinkwrap - 1981 shrinkwrap is markedly different from "new" shrinkwrap -

Even if the shrink is an original one, it is not a proof that this is the very first copy ;) because in this case, I have tons of first copies héhé

Anyway, I am just giving a point of view. Ok you don't share it, but you are not able to say "Yes it is the very first copy, there is no doubt at all!":)
(as I said previously, even with very honest seller, the doubt is possible, look at the "ST1 story" on acaeum (http://www.acaeum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3731))