Speaking of TSR UK: reader Martin Williams recently informed me of a catalog from the company's British division released in 1983, whose pages he kindly scanned. The catalog is notable both for its original art by Rodney Matthews, as well as its actual content. Matthews also worked with TSR UK through Imagine magazine, for which he provided the covers to issues 9, 12, and 22.
The center spread of the catalog showcases both the
Dungeons & Dragons (in its B/X variety – apparently this was prior to the release of the 1983 Frank Mentzer-edited version) and the
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons games.
Of note is the use of the term "adventure games," which seems to have been particularly popular in the United Kingdom. Also noteworthy is that the section on
AD&D, which it
pronounces "an entirely different game ... for more experienced players."
Here's a better view of the Matthews illustration in all its glory.
I'll post more scans from the catalog tomorrow. Thanks again to Martin Williams for sharing these with me, as I'd never seen them before.
LOVE the Rodney Matthews art on these! Feels right in line with the Erol Otus B/X art.
ReplyDeleteTrue that.
Delete"...(in its B/X variety – apparently this was prior to the release of the 1983 Frank Mentzer-edited version)..."
ReplyDeleteNot universally true, but annual catalogs were often finalized and sent to the printer late in the year before so they could be distributed as early as possible during the year they were 'live" - which meant they'd gradually grow more and more incomplete as new releases came out during that year. Bigger companies with a lot of output might even do "catalog supplements" in various formats (usually just loose pages) with the very latest releases to mitigate that - and companies with money to burn might rely on bi-annual or even quarterly catalogs instead, but those were rare.
Sometimes an upcoming product (from 1983 in this case) was far enough along that they could get product shots in, but that was a little risky if something went wrong and it wound up not being able to ship on time.
That Ral Partha fig I was talking about in the comments back in the mind flayer art post is a good example of the delay effect. It first showed in catalogs in '96 but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was actually released sometime in '95, with the base marked as such. That happened a lot with minis back when physical catalogs were more of a thing, and can cause quite a bit of confusion for collectors.
No problem, James - glad it's of interest. Martin
ReplyDeleteI had never seen this/these, either, and thank you. Forty years. Is that relic, vintage, or simply Unearthed?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to assume that guy with the ax is an elf. If so I wish all elves in D&D looked like that.
ReplyDeleteLooks a lot like some of illustrations of Moorcock's stuff to me. Not that Melniboneans and whatever species Corum was didn't look like elves anyway.
Delete"Three or more adults.
ReplyDeleteAges 10 and up." ....?????????