HOLMES BASIC FOREIGN EDITIONS

The above illustration is from the first printing of the UK Holmes Basic rulebook, and is a re-drawing by the artist Fangon of the art on page 3 of the original. Source: Dragonsfoot

The Acaeum has a page devoted to the foreign editions of the Holmes Basic Set, noting four UK printings published by Games Workshop, and one Australian printing (rulebook only). However, Acaeum member dwarf has provided me with evidence of a 5th UK printing with prices missing from the product list on the back cover; the text of this otherwise corresponds to the US "2nd Edition, Nov 1978".

The first two UK printings are especially noteworthy for having completely different artwork, including a new cover by John Blanche and new interior work by Fangorn. This Dragonsfoot thread has a comparison of the UK artwork with the original, and reveals that many, but not all, of the pieces show the same subject matter, but re-drawn by Fangorn. An interesting sidenote is that the Fiend Folio contains a full-page artwork by Fangorn that also looks like it could be a redone cover from US Holmes Basic rulebook, as it also shows a wizard and warrior facing off against a dragon. It is possible that Fangorn executed this piece at the same time as his interior work, but the John Blanche art was used instead and the Fangorn's was then used later in the FF. The original art for Blanche's cover can be seen here.

In a 2001 interview, Gary Gygax was asked about the UK version, and responded:

"Yes, I saw the work, and I approved. Ian [Livingstone] and Steve [Jackson of Games Workshop] convinced me that their audience didn't like the illustrations used in American versions of the game, so I gave them the okay to produce their own. I had a copy of the Basic Set rules, but it was lost when Lorraine Williams took over TSR..."

The first UK printing of Holmes Basic was available as of December 1977, as evidenced by a photo from Games Day III (Dec 17, 1977), published in White Dwarf #5, which shows "Dubious characters handling dubious material! From left to right, Bill Howard, Don Turnbull, Tony Ball and Rob Thomasson". However, based on other photos, I think Turnbull is actually the one wearing the plaid tie.

An early review of the UK rulebook appeared in January 1978 in Gallimaufry #12, a Diplomacy zine out of the UK that ran from 1976-1979, edited by Steve Doubleday.

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The Australian printing is just the rulebook, and has the Sutherland artwork on the cover but in much darker blue shade, and included a loose blue sheet similar similar to the title page.

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A thread about a French translation of the Blue Book, circa 1980