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ORIGINAL 1991 TSR DARK SUN PRODUCTION MATERIAL — FROM THE PERSONAL PORTFOLIO OF TSR GRAPHIC DESIGNER DEE BARNETT
This is an extraordinary surviving piece of original TSR production history from the creation of the legendary 1991 Advanced Dungeons & Dragons DARK SUN Campaign Setting, TSR 2400.
Included are original layered production / prepress transparency and acetate elements used in the graphic construction of interior design elements appearing in the original DARK SUN Rules Book.
These are not modern reproductions, prints, or recreated artwork.
The material came directly from the professional TSR portfolio of Dee Barnett, one of TSR’s important graphic designers during the golden era of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
The original 1991 DARK SUN Rules Book credits:
Graphic Design & Production — Dee Barnett & Paul Hanchette
What makes this piece particularly exciting is that the production elements can be visually matched directly to the finished published book.
THE PUBLISHED ELEMENTS
The large layered burning-sun graphic corresponds to the dramatic chapter-opening design used for:
CHAPTER I: ABILITY SCORES
The smaller circular flaming element corresponds to the decorative graphic used around the medallion appearing in the:
PLAYER CHARACTER
section of the Rules Book.
The accompanying photos show the actual published pages for comparison.
This is essentially a look behind the curtain at how one of TSR’s most recognizable campaign worlds was physically assembled for publication.
ORIGINAL ANALOG TSR PRODUCTION
The transparent sheets retain their original:
• Registration marks
• Layered color elements
• Masks and overlays
• Alignment elements
• Production tape
• Surface wear associated with working production material
Long before today’s completely digital publishing workflow, graphic designers assembled page elements using physical artwork, transparency layers, paste-ups, masks, and photographic/prepress processes before the finished material went to the printer.
Pieces like this were working tools—not merchandise made for sale to the public.
Most were discarded after a project was completed.
The fact that these survived for more than three decades in a TSR designer’s professional portfolio is remarkable.
ABOUT DEE BARNETT
Dee Barnett was a graphic designer whose work became part of numerous TSR and Advanced Dungeons & Dragons publications during the 1990s.
Her credited work spans major TSR properties including DARK SUN, PLANESCAPE, FORGOTTEN REALMS, Player’s Option, and numerous AD&D books and accessories.
Barnett’s career is especially interesting to collectors because she worked during the transition from traditional physical paste-up and prepress production into computer-based publishing.
The 1991 DARK SUN Campaign Setting represents the early period of that career and is one of the most distinctive visual identities TSR ever produced.
PROVENANCE
This piece originated from Dee Barnett’s personal professional portfolio of TSR-era production material.
A Letter of Provenance is included with the purchase, documenting its association with the Dee Barnett portfolio.
The original published DARK SUN Rules Book is shown in the photographs strictly for reference/comparison and is not included unless specifically stated otherwise.
CONDITION
This is authentic working production material from approximately 1991 and should be considered an archival production artifact rather than conventional finished artwork.
Expect production-related wear including handling marks, scratches, tape, adhesive residue, registration marks, surface wear, age-related discoloration, and other evidence of the original publishing process.
These characteristics are part of the history of the piece and have intentionally not been cleaned, altered, restored, or separated.
Please examine all photographs carefully. The photographs form an important part of the description.
A SERIOUS PIECE OF TSR HISTORY
DARK SUN debuted in 1991 and remains one of the most visually distinctive and collectible settings ever created for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
The physical production material used to create those books cannot.
For the serious collector of:
TSR • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons • AD&D 2nd Edition • DARK SUN • Athas • Original D&D Art • RPG Production Art • TSR Ephemera • Graphic Design History • Prepress Artifacts
this represents an opportunity to own an actual surviving piece of the production process behind the original DARK SUN campaign setting.
One-of-a-kind original TSR production material with direct published comparison and documented provenance.
Will be carefully packaged for shipment. Purchase will be insured for the full sale value and shipped with signature confirmation.
