The artwork of TSR captured the imaginations of an entire generation of Role Playing Gamers and fantasy art enthusiasts. While crude in the very beginning (D&D first appeared in 1974), by the early 1980’s the artwork improved dramatically, with artists such as Larry Elmore, Clyde Caldwell, Jeff Easley, and Brom, among others, creating truly iconic images. The artwork graced the covers of not only books such as the Monster Manual, Players Handbook, and Unearthed Arcana, but modules, boxed sets, and Dragon Magazine as well. The art served as a hook to grab the attention of new players and also provided RPG’ers with a rich visual tapestry as the backdrop to their adventures into the realms of Dungeons and Dragons. So it only made sense that the game would be adapted into the graphic medium of comic books.
Thus in the late 1980’s TSR licensed DC Comics to produce comics based on several of the games fantasy settings. By the close of the decade, DC had launched Dragonlance (August, 1988), Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (September, 1988), and Forgotten Realms (September, 1989). This promotional poster, released in 1989 to comic speciality stores, highlighted the new series and features primary artwork by Rags Morales with the main characters from the new series. The artwork was created specifically for this poster, but it also promoted the already ongoing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons title (issue #9 is shown, featuring pencils and inks by Jan Duursema) and Dragonlance title (issue #11, featuring pencils and inks by Ron Randall).
Measuring 14 1/2 by 22 inches, the poster was never displayed, has only minor storage wear, and will be shipped with the utmost care. Please note that, as a promotional poster, it came factory folded (the only way the poster was ever available and then, again, only to comic speciality stores – it was not sold to the general public). It is signed by hand by all three contributing artists; Rags Morales, Jan Duursema, and Ron Randall. Please note- the signatures are real. They are the actual, hand-signed signature of the artists stated. They are not pre-printed images on the poster.
Certificate of Authenticity/Provenance:
Excepting pack-pulled autograph trading cards, CGC Signature Series, signed Sideshow prints, and like collectibles, all autographed items Vault Collectibles sells were personally witnessed, by myself, being signed by the writer, artist, or celebrity in question. No third party is involved. Further, art sketches - and most published original art I sell - were obtained directly from the artist themselves.
For buyers desiring this guarantee in written form, this statement guarantees that the above referenced item is as stated in the listing description. A screen capture of the completed auction page, which includes this statement of provenance, may be saved by the buyer as a digital file or print off in hardcopy form. As this serves as written proof of said guarantee, no physical documentation will be included in the package when the item is mailed.
J. Brian O’Bryant
VaultCollectibles
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