D&D 5E When do you expect that we will start seeing the 2nd printings of the 3 core books?

[painted_klown]

On the Starter Set box I'm looking at, there is a small white serial number of some kind overprinted on the black area, just above the red flash on the left side of the lid. It looks like "ELM 273 14" although that M might be a V or a Y, it's a bit smudged. It could be meaningless, or it could be some sort of stock code added by the retailer. This particular box came from the Book Depository. Does anyone else have anything similar on their boxes?

Thank you for your input. This is exactly the kind of information that I am looking for. I am currently scouring the internet for close up pictures of the back of the box, to see if there might be any identifying markings there. (UPC perhaps?)

I am afraid most people don't care about this kind of stuff, so it may end up being an impossible task, but I figure it worth a try anyway.

 

[painted_klown]

Ok gang, I scoured the city all day and did find 1st print, first impression copies of HotDQ and TRoT.

I had to pay full retail + tax, but it was worth it IMO, just to satisfy my collector OCD.

I also picked up a starter set with "ELM 273 14" stamped on it (also at full retail + tax), but was disappointed when I opened the box to find that it was 2nd impression.

I could have bought it on Amazon for $12...and I still want to have 1st impression box set.

Yes, I know...it's a sickness!!! I need to get help...

 

[BornAgainGamer]

Mine has 987654321 on the inside back cover of the rulebook and says first printing: July 2014. On the outside of the box has ELM 160 14. Hope this helps

 

[BoldItalic]

Mine has 987654321 on the inside back cover of the rulebook and says first printing: July 2014. On the outside of the box has ELM 160 14. Hope this helps

Interesting. It begins to look like that code number is useful.
ELM 160 14 =?= First Printing, July 2014
ELM 273 14 =?= Second Printing, August 2014

 

[thalmin]

Ok gang, I scoured the city all day and did find 1st print, first impression copies of HotDQ and TRoT.

I had to pay full retail + tax, but it was worth it IMO, just to satisfy my collector OCD.

I also picked up a starter set with "ELM 273 14" stamped on it (also at full retail + tax), but was disappointed when I opened the box to find that it was 2nd impression.

I could have bought it on Amazon for $12...and I still want to have 1st impression box set.

Yes, I know...it's a sickness!!! I need to get help...

I believe I have a first imprint Starter Set in my personal collection that I am willing to part with. I will check it this evening when I get home.

edit: I see that my store demo copy has "ELM 156 14" stamped on it. But that one has been heavily used.

Edit again: The store has several unopened copies stamped the same as one I just opened, which is a first imprint.

 

[painted_klown]

I believe I have a first imprint Starter Set in my personal collection that I am willing to part with. I will check it this evening when I get home.

edit: I see that my store demo copy has "ELM 156 14" stamped on it. But that one has been heavily used.

Edit again: The store has several unopened copies stamped the same as one I just opened, which is a first imprint.

PM Sent

 

[Remathilis]

I just recently acquired dead tree copies from Amazon.

My PHB is 98765432, my DMG is 98765432, and my MM is 987654321. They were all ordered at the same time and arrived together on the same day.

Certainly, it appears Amazon has mixed batches at this point.

 

[painted_klown]

I just recently acquired dead tree copies from Amazon.

My PHB is 98765432, my DMG is 98765432, and my MM is 987654321. They were all ordered at the same time and arrived together on the same day.

Certainly, it appears Amazon has mixed batches at this point.

Looking in all of the local game/comic shops (3 that I am aware of, and looked at), I am finding that the Starter Box, PHB, HotDQ, and Trot are all on 2nd impressions. After opening mine, it hit me that the ELM # is the key to knowing. ELM 1XX 14 and it's 1st impression. ELM 2XX 14 and it's 2nd impression...at least from what I have been able to deduce. One of my friends has a starter box that is ELM 177 14 and it's 1st impression. The one I bought yesterday was ELM 273 14, and it's 2nd impression. Sadly, I didn't come to this conclusion until after I had purchased (and opened) it.

DMG and MM can be found as 1st impressions, if you look around. I found my HoDQ and TRoT at Barnes & Noble (physical store) as 1st impression copies. I bought the only copy of HoDQ they had, but they had around 5 more copies of TRoT that were all 1st impression.

EDIT: BoldItalic already beat me in figuring this out.