How are your 3E PHBs, DMGs and MMs holding up?

[Chronosome]

My PHB is looking a little worn. The pages have separated from the spine, and Lidda's not whispering seductions at me anymore...

 

[Urbanmech]

I've had my core books since the day they were each first released. None of them are showing any signs of spine damage. I'm impressed with how well they are holding up. There are a few scuffs on the covers though, from constant weekly use.

It probably also helps that I don't carry them around in my backpack all the time like I did my old 2e books back in High School. I'm sure that sped the wear on those books by quite a bit. Well cared for books are happy books!

 

[Darkness]

My books are just fine.

 

[Dave G]

Hey Chrono!

My PHB's spine is completely separated from the cover, and is currently held in place by the pasted down cover pages. I have to be careful the way I set the book down in my backpack and other places, I hope it holds up until the revised version is available...

I haven't really used the other two enough for much damage to occur with them so they're all right!

 

[JeffB]

My PHB bought the day that they were released fell apart (pages unglued from spine) within a few months. I finally replaced it this past summer.

My DMG and MM (bought on the release dates) have lasted much longer than my first PHB, but they will be toast by the time the revised books hit the shelf, as they are starting to "unglue" as well...so it's good timing I suppose.

 

[megamania]

PHB's spine is getting a loose feeling but nothing otherwise. I do my best to treat the books carefully. My first and second edition books are nearly identically torn up. It is hard to know which book I hold since the pictures on the covers are all worn off.

 

[shadowlight]

I bought each of the 3 core books on their release dates (the DMG 1 day before), and I abuse them regularly. They're all holding together great!

 

[alsih2o]

my ceramics bok that get used as much as my core books have been held together by duct tape forever. my core books are holding up well

 

[Henry]

I voted that they are holding up, but not for long.

There is NOTHING wrong with the binding, but I tend to open the PHB and MM at least three times each day. NO BOOK is designed to handle that kind of abuse. I'd say the PHB gets laid out flat on my work desk or gaming table at least 20 times in a week.

With due respect, those old 1E books were opened and closed by me, for a period of 9 years, far more than 3 times a day. My PHB and DMG, purchased in 1981, are still looking good. Scratched up, surely, but with respect to the spine, better than either my 3E DMG or PHB.

I still maintain that Gary had a contract with Asmodeus over the 1E print runs of those two books.

 

[Henry]

Hey Chrono!

My PHB's spine is completely separated from the cover, and is currently held in place by the pasted down cover pages.

Mine, also. I got mine at the 2000 Gencon, and it held up pretty well - until about 6 months ago. It still holds, but you can tell where the binding separated from the spine.

The thing is, the 1E books used the same binding process as college textbooks back in the 1970's and 1980's. They held remarkably well, despite the teenage damage I put them through.

EDIT - Merric reminded me of something. My unearthed Arcana had a terrible binding, and fell apart within a year. Most of my other books, Oriental Adventures, Dungeon Survival Guide, Etc. - stayed together well. I have a first and second printing first edition AD&D PHB on my shelf - and both are looking better than some of my 3rd edition books.