"The War Game" Topic

I have a copy of this book dated 1972. I have been looking online at prices for it and it seems to have a variable value. So my question is. How much is my copy worth in good condition with dust jacket?

As much as anyone will pay for it!

I'd never sell mine it's one of my favourite books!

I bid $100 USD for mine but only paid $10 USD b/c nobody else bid. :-)

I have a 1972 copy as well, but would really have to be hard up before I'd part with it. The Wargame is the reason I got into miniatures.

I got my copy, with dust jacket, for $2.00 USD last February at the local library's "Friends of the Library" quarterly book sale.

I had never seen the volume previously.

I wouldn't sell mine either a great book, with some great concepts. It was the first set of rules I used and still fun today.

This is what I am talking about. The book seems to be a classic among wargamers and certainly in the wargames media. But is it really? High value of the value of the book are banded about, but really it gets sold for much less. I will keep mine, but is it all hype? I bought the new updated version of the rules and they are a sturdy set of rules. I was just puzzled by the prices asked and paid for the original.

I think I paid a few years back about £15.00 GBP for my copy from the on-line Oxfam charity book shop. I didn't quibble too much on the price as it was for a good cause.

I think the 'need to have' factor fell out of the market for this book when it was republished in its updated paperback version.

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Prior to that it fetched a very good price. There are so many holes in the original rules (great though they were in the 1970s) that this was a much needed publication but, it has made the first editions nothing more than memorabilia. I don't play Old School rules any more and keep my copy only for when I'm wearing my rose tinted spectacles; aaah back in the day. It sits on my book shelf with several other golden, useless, oldies. I wouldn't part with any of them.

My war game book list:

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There are two kinds of book collectors: those who are interested in forst editions, fine bindings, author's autograph &c., and those who simply want the content and will be happy with a cheap, reprint edition.

I'm in the second camp, so olicana has thr right of it, IMHO.

Ah…. the allure of the book.

The thrill of the hunt.

We are all going around trying to buy the books, games, miniatures we had as a kid but contrary to our mothers instructions to "take care of it so you will have it forever" we didn't.

How many times have you been in some old, musty book store or antique store with piles and piles of boxes of books in it which you rummage through.

And suddenly!!!! There it is!

You've never seen it, you've HEARD about it, but you never thought you'd ever see it, let along find it. But there it is, sitting misfiled in some other section. You pull it down from the shelf thinking there must be some mistake-- that it must be some other book which coincidentally has the same name. But you, with trembling hands pull it down and open it tenderly- it's so old, you're afraid it will crack like a piece of find china, or turn to dust like the books of the Eloi-- but no, it's--- it's IT's IT's IT!!!!!!!! You leaf through a few pages and even now begin to turn. You pause and look in the box to see if there are any more treasures-- no this is it. You look in the cover for the price. Your heart skips a beat. "Only $.50 USD cents!" your heart skips a beat. Get the digitalis. You get up and slowly walk towards the old beat up counter. You pick up one or two books fromt he shelves along the way- you don't care what they are! But you don't want to betray what you have found.

You give it a furtive glance. From somewhere deep inside you hear an eerily odd voice as grating as fingernails on a black board "me precious…"

You come up to the counter, non-chalantly drop the books on it. You say "Slowly… Softly… don't let him know what you got! He may raise the price to a million or so!" He checks it out, takes your money and you slowly walk out to the door, open it--- there is a rush of adrenelin in your body you're going to make it-- you're out!

As the door latch clicks you feel your soul burst out and you run down the street wildly screaming… "I have it!!! I have THE Book!!! I have the Necronomicon!"

Sell my war game books? Not bloody likely mate!

I am in the same boat – have a copy, with the original jacket, but would never sell it

I have an original copy of 'The War Game' by Charles Grant dated 1971 (first issue), priceless to me.

I also have the 2007 reprint.

In addition I have another book called 'The War Game' edited by Peter Young and includes chapters by the 'greats' including Charles Grant. It is dated 1972.

Which book is the OP about?

I have the 1971 print also. Acquired in 76. Cover is getting some wear, but $100 USD I would not accept. I'm a Napoleonic GdBde gamer, but I started with The Wargame. For me its a relic.

£10.00 GBP to 15

the reprint works just as well

Anything else is false snobbery maybe

Still have the original on my bookshelf. Priceless to me.

having a book with history isn't snobbery its appreciation, same as valuing an old building, a countries history or archaeological history, artefacts can be sold but shouldn't be, the same with more mundane but important items from our hobbies past and our own personal journeys in life I have old copies of battle magazine, some old wargaming books by bath, Featherstone and ilk I would never part with some cost relatively little money but to me are priceless its rather soul less not to understand that

I found some of the reprints of old wargames books to be poor quality and have bought the originals instead as the facsimile pages didn't come out that well.

And I agree, it's not snobbery – I picked up The Wargame for £35.00 GBP, Wargames for £15.00 GBP, Practical Wargaming for £12.00 GBP, Charge! for £20.00 GBP

Hardly exorbitant prices or more than a modern ruleset…

Mike

As you wish. They are nice books but I am glad I didn't pay silly money for them. Not exactly an investment to my mind.

Memories are priceless, but books don't have to be expensive