Collector's Guide to Dungeons & Dragons Supplement II: Blackmoor
Blackmoor, published in 1975 as Supplement II for the original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set, was Dave Arneson's contribution to the rapidly expanding game. Like Greyhawk, it was repeatedly reprinted as D&D grew, but its collecting history is somewhat different: the book remained substantially the same while TSR produced at least nine printings between 1975 and 1979.
This guide concentrates solely on identifying the various printings of the original TSR booklet. If you're interested in the history and significance of the supplement itself, see my companion article Blackmoor (1975): Dave Arneson's Other Dungeons & Dragons.
At a Glance
- Title: Dungeons & Dragons Supplement II: Blackmoor
- Publisher: Tactical Studies Rules / TSR
- First Published: December 1975
- Designer: Dave Arneson
- Editor: Tim Kask
- Product Code: TSR 2004
- Original Format: Saddle-stitched booklet
- Pages: 60
- Original Price: $5.00
- Known Original Printings: 1st–9th, 1975–1979
- Collectability: ★★★★★
First Printing (December 1975)
The first printing is dated December 1975 and is the earliest form of Blackmoor published by TSR. Contemporary production records indicate an initial print run of approximately 5,000 copies.
Collectors should examine the copyright and publication information carefully. The original booklet identifies itself as Supplement II: Blackmoor, credits Dave Arneson, and carries the 1975 TSR copyright notice. The original retail price was $5.00.
Early examples can be found with the original black-and-white presentation of the cover. Collector records also distinguish an early colour-cover variant. This should not automatically be treated as a separate printing: the colour-cover distinction is an edition/cover variation within the early production of the book, whereas the printing number is established from the interior publication statement.
The first printing is particularly desirable because it is the original 1975 publication and the beginning of the Blackmoor printing sequence.
Second Printing (July 1976)
The second printing is dated July 1976. TSR's production records indicate a further 5,000 copies were produced at this stage.
The booklet remains a 60-page publication and retains the same basic cover and interior design. Consequently, collectors should not attempt to identify this printing from the cover alone.
The most reliable identification point is the printing statement on the copyright page, which should identify the book as the Second Printing, July 1976.
Third Printing (April 1977)
The third printing is dated April 1977. A surviving copy of the booklet records this explicitly as 3rd Printing, April 1977.
TSR's surviving production records indicate a print run of approximately 5,083 copies.
As with the second printing, the physical booklet is still 60 pages and is substantially the same publication. The interior printing statement is therefore the most dependable method of identification.
Fourth Printing (December 1977)
The fourth printing appeared in December 1977.
Production records indicate a further print run of approximately 5,000 copies. Contemporary collector listings also identify copies specifically as the fourth printing and date them to December 1977.
By this point Blackmoor had become an established part of TSR's Original D&D catalogue, but the booklet itself remained remarkably stable.
Fifth Printing (March 1978)
The fifth printing is dated March 1978.
TSR production records indicate approximately 5,000 copies were produced. The booklet remained 60 pages and continued to use the same basic presentation.
For collectors, the copyright page remains the safest way to distinguish this printing from the surrounding editions.
Sixth Printing (August 1978)
The sixth printing is dated August 1978.
TSR's surviving production records give a print run of approximately 5,736 copies. This is the last Blackmoor printing for which the surviving September 1978 production audit provides a specific print-run figure.
The booklet remained 60 pages and otherwise changed little, making the printing statement particularly important when identifying a copy.
Seventh Printing (November 1978)
The seventh printing is dated November 1978.
Collector records identify copies specifically as the seventh printing, and surviving sales listings consistently date this printing to November 1978.
There is no reason to expect a major content change between the sixth and seventh printings. The printing number and date inside the booklet are therefore more useful than the cover for identification.
Eighth Printing (April 1979)
The eighth printing is dated April 1979.
Copies identified by collectors as the eighth printing carry the corresponding printing information while retaining the standard 60-page format.
By this stage the booklet had been in continuous production for more than three years. The continued demand for Blackmoor is itself evidence of how firmly the early supplements had become part of the D&D catalogue.
Ninth Printing (November 1979)
The ninth printing is dated November 1979 and is the latest known printing of the original TSR Blackmoor booklet.
The ninth printing is still a 60-page book with product code 2004. Collector records identify copies from November 1979, while TSR's catalogue records confirm that a ninth printing existed in 1979.
For collectors, this is the final printing in the original 1975–1979 sequence and should not be confused with the much later premium reprint editions.
Printing Checklist
| Printing | Date | Approx. Print Run | Pages | Identification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | December 1975 | 5,000 | 60 | 1975 copyright; first printing |
| Second | July 1976 | 5,000 | 60 | Second Printing, July 1976 |
| Third | April 1977 | 5,083 | 60 | 3rd Printing, April 1977 |
| Fourth | December 1977 | 5,000 | 60 | Fourth Printing, December 1977 |
| Fifth | March 1978 | 5,000 | 60 | Fifth Printing, March 1978 |
| Sixth | August 1978 | 5,736 | 60 | Sixth Printing, August 1978 |
| Seventh | November 1978 | — | 60 | Seventh Printing, November 1978 |
| Eighth | April 1979 | — | 60 | Eighth Printing, April 1979 |
| Ninth | November 1979 | — | 60 | Ninth Printing, November 1979 |
Note: The print-run figures shown above come from surviving TSR production records and are not available for every printing. The dates for later printings are supported by contemporary collector records and catalogue evidence. The production audit itself notes that its records do not include information prior to November 1975 and that printing numbers do not always correspond perfectly to delivery dates.
Cover Variations
Collectors should be particularly careful about treating cover appearance as proof of a printing.
Surviving collector catalogues distinguish black-and-white and colour-cover examples of the early Blackmoor publication. These are useful collecting distinctions, but they should not automatically be assigned separate printing numbers without checking the interior printing statement.
This is especially important because the booklet went through nine printings while retaining its 60-page format and broadly similar appearance.
What Makes a First Printing Desirable?
The first printing represents the original 1975 publication of Dave Arneson's Blackmoor and is therefore the version most closely associated with the moment when Arneson's campaign material first entered the TSR catalogue.
The known production run of approximately 5,000 copies is small by later TSR standards, although it is important not to confuse a small historical print run with extreme modern rarity. Condition, completeness and confidence in the printing identification all have a major effect on collector interest.
Later Reprints and Editions
The original printing sequence should be kept separate from later reissues.
In 2013, Blackmoor was reproduced as part of TSR's Premium Reprint of the original D&D material. These modern reproductions are not part of the 1975–1979 nine-printing sequence.
Collectors seeking an original TSR copy should therefore verify that the booklet's internal printing statement belongs to the original production period.
Collector's Checklist
- Confirm the product: Dungeons & Dragons Supplement II: Blackmoor.
- Confirm the product code: TSR 2004.
- Confirm the format: 60-page booklet.
- Check the copyright page: this is the most reliable printing identifier.
- Record the printing number and date: do not rely on the cover alone.
- Check the cover: note whether the copy is the black-and-white or colour-cover variant.
- Distinguish originals from later premium reprints.
- Check completeness and condition: especially the covers, staples and interior pages.
Collector's Note: Blackmoor is one of the foundational publications of the early D&D hobby and an especially important piece of TSR history because it represents Dave Arneson's first major published contribution to the game after the original rules. The nine-printing sequence from 1975 through 1979 makes it possible to date many surviving copies with considerable precision, provided the interior printing statement is checked.
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