Through the Ages: Dungeons & Dragons Cover Art

What this is: a scrollable, one page list of D&D cover art for core rulebooks(or “semi-core rulebooks”, semi-core of course being subjective) rulebooks of the various versions of the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop RPG game.

I spent some time searching for a page like this that had everything all in one place for D&D cover art and couldn’t find it (although there are great resources out there, nothing seems to have it all on one page). So I hope you find this useful and fun to browse.

I also hope for this to be an ongoing, fluid post as more information comes to light and (hopefully) folks point out things I’ve missed or books I should have covered but didn’t, etc. So feel free!

Many sites were helpful in helping me remember (or learn about!) the various rulebooks and their chronology, but the three I found myself on most often were the Tome of Treasures, Wikipedia and D&D Classics.

Without further ado, the Dungeons & Dragons rulebook cover art throughout the years:

  • Update 1 (April 25, 2015): Added OD&D Men & Magic 1st – 3rd Printing cover (based on note from Shawn Sanford in comments); Added Video slideshow version via YouTube embed (at bottom of post)
  • Update 2 (April 28, 2015): Added 4th Edition Essentials books
  • Update 3 (July 18, 2018): Added AD&D 1st Edition Monster Manual II
  • Update 4 (September 8, 2019): Added 5th Edition Core Rulebook Alternate Hydro74 covers and D&D Essentials Kit

Chainmail

Chainmail 1st Edition Guidon Games

Chainmail 1st Edition Guidon Games

Chainmail 3rd Edition TSR Games

Chainmail 3rd Edition TSR Games

Original Dungeons & Dragons (OD&D)

OD&D Volume 1 Men & Magic 1st-3rd Printing

OD&D Volume 1 Men & Magic 1st-3rd Printing

OD&D Volume 1 Men & Magic 3+-4th Printing

OD&D Volume 1 Men & Magic 3+-4th Printing

OD&D Volume 2 Monsters & Treasure

OD&D Volume 2 Monsters & Treasure

OD&D Volume 3 The Underworld & Wildnerness Adventures

OD&D Volume 3 The Underworld & Wildnerness Adventures

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)

D&D Basic Set 1st Edition Original Box (Holmes Edition)

D&D Basic Set 1st Edition Original Box

D&D Basic Set 1st Edition Second Box (Erol Otus)

D&D Basic Set 1st Edition Second Box 

D&D Basic Set 2nd Edition Rulebook 1981

D&D Basic Set 2nd Edition Rulebook 1981

D&D Basic Set 3rd Edition, the classic "Red Box" edition (Mentzer)

D&D Basic Set 3rd Edition, the classic “Red Box” edition

D&D Expert Set 1st Editioj Box

D&D Expert Set 1st Edition Box

D&D Expert Set 1st Edition Rulebook

D&D Expert Set 1st Edition Rulebook

D&D Expert Set 2nd Edition Box

D&D Expert Set 2nd Edition Box

D&D Companion Set Box

D&D Companion Set Box

D&D Master Set Box

D&D Immortals Set Box

D&D Immortals Set Box

D&D Rules Cyclopedia

D&D Rules Cyclopedia

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons -> Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D / D&D) 1st – 5th Editions

AD&D Players Handbook 1st Edition Original Cover

AD&D Players Handbook 1st Edition Original Cover

AD&D Players Handbook 1st Edition 2nd Cover

AD&D Players Handbook 1st Edition 2nd Cover

AD&D Players Handbook 1st Edition Premium

AD&D Players Handbook 1st Edition Premium Reprint

AD&D Players Handbook 2nd Edition

AD&D Player’s Handbook 2nd Edition

AD&D Players Handbook 2nd Edition Revised

AD&D Player’s Handbook 2nd Edition Revised

AD&D Players Handbook 2nd Edition Premium

AD&D Player’s Handbook 2nd Edition Premium

D&D Players Handbook 3rd Edition

D&D Player’s Handbook 3rd Edition

D&D Players Handbook 3.5 Edition

D&D Player’s Handbook 3.5 Edition

D&D Players Handbook 3.5 Edition Special Edition

D&D Player’s Handbook 3.5 Edition Special Edition

D&D Players Handbook 3.5 Edition Premium

D&D Player’s Handbook 3.5 Edition Reprint with Errata

D&D Player’s Handbook 4th Edition

D&D Essentials Heroes of the Fallen Lands 4th Edition

D&D Essentials Heroes of the Fallen Lands 4th Edition

D&D Essentials Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms 4th Edition

D&D Essentials Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms 4th Edition

D&D Essentials Rules Compendium 4th Edition

D&D Essentials Rules Compendium 4th Edition

D&D Players Handbook 5th Edition

D&D Player’s Handbook 5th Edition 

d&d fifth edition players handbook alternate version hydro74 cover art

D&D Playerā€™s Handbook 5th Edition Alternate Hydro74 Cover

AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide 1st Edition

AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide 1st Edition

AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide 1st Edition 2nd Cover

AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide 1st Edition 2nd Cover

AD&D 1st Edition Premium Reprint

AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide 1st Edition Premium Reprint

AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide 2nd Edition

AD&D Dungeon Master’s Guide 2nd Edition

AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide 2nd Edition Revised

AD&D Dungeon Master Guide 2nd Edition Revised

AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide 2nd Edition Premium

AD&D Dungeon Master Guide 2nd Edition Premium

D&D Dungeon Masters Guide 3rd Edition

D&D Dungeon Master’s Guide 3rd Edition

D&D Dungeon Masters Guide 3.5 Edition

D&D Dungeon Master’s Guide 3.5 Edition

D&D Players Handbook 3.5 Edition Special Edition

D&D Dungeon Master’s Guide 3.5 Edition Special Edition

D&D Dungeon Masters Guide 3.5 Edition Premium

D&D Dungeon Master’s Guide 3.5 Edition Reprint with Errata

D&D Dungeon Masters Guide 4th Edition

D&D Dungeon Master’s Guide 4th Edition

D&D Essentials Dungeon Master's Kit 4th Edition

D&D Essentials Dungeon Master’s Kit 4th Edition

D&D Dungeon Masters Guide 5th Edition

D&D Dungeon Master’s Guide 5th Edition

D&D fifth edition duneon masters guide alternate version hydro74 cover art.jpg

D&D Dungeon Master’s Guide 5th Edition Alternate Hydro74 Cover

AD&D Monster Manual 1st Edition

AD&D Monster Manual 1st Edition

AD&D Monster Manual 1st Edition 2nd Cover

AD&D Monster Manual 1st Edition 2nd Cover

AD&D 1st Edition Premium Reprint

AD&D Monster Manual 1st Edition Premium Reprint

AD&D Monster Manual II 1st Edition

AD&D Monster Manual II 1st Edition

AD&D 2nd Edition Monstrous Manual Volume 1

AD&D Monstrous Compendium 2nd Edition Volume 1

AD&D 2nd Edition Monstrous Compendium Volume 2

AD&D Monstrous Compendium 2nd Edition Volume 2

AD&D 2nd Edition Monstrous Manual

AD&D Monstrous Manual 2nd Edition

AD&D 2nd Edition Monstrous Manual Revised

AD&D Monstrous Manual 2nd Edition Revised

AD&D 2nd Edition Monstrous Manual Premium

AD&D  Monstrous Manual 2nd Edition Premium 

AD&D Monster Manual 3rd Edition

AD&D Monster Manual 3rd Edition

D&D Monster Manual 3.5 Edition

D&D Monster Manual 3.5 Edition

D&D Players Handbook 3.5 Edition Special Edition

D&D Monster Manual 3.5 Edition Special Edition

D&D Monster Manual 3.5 Edition Reprint with Errata

D&D Monster Manual 3.5 Edition Reprint with Errata

D&D Monster Manual 4th Edition

D&D Monster Manual 4th Edition

D&D Essentials Monster Vault 4th Edition

D&D Essentials Monster Vault 4th Edition

D&D Monster Manual 5th Edition

D&D Monster Manual 5th Edition

d&d fifth edition monster manual alternate version hydro74 cover art.jpg

D&D Monster Manual 5th Edition Alternate Hydro74 Cover

D&D Starter Set 5th Edition

D&D Starter Set 5th Edition

d&d fifth edition essentials kit cover art

D&D Essentials Kit 5th Edition

AD&D Fiend Folio 1st Edition

AD&D Fiend Folio 1st Edition

AD&D Deities & Demigods 1st Edition

AD&D Deities & Demigods 1st Edition

AD&D Legends & Lore 1st Edition

AD&D Legends & Lore 1st Edition

AD&D Legends & Lore 2nd Edition

AD&D Legends & Lore 2nd Edition

AD&D Unearthed Arcana 1st Editon

AD&D Unearthed Arcana 1st Editon

AD&D Unearthed Arcana 1st Editon Premium Reprint

AD&D Unearthed Arcana 1st Editon Premium Reprint

AD&D Unearthed Arcana 3rd Edition

AD&D Unearthed Arcana 3rd Edition

Th-th-th-that’s all, folks! (for now, feel free to post corrections, notes, suggestions in the comments below and I will keep this page moving).

Thanks for checking this page out! If you are a D&D dork like me I bet you enjoyed it.

You’ll find a handy dandy video version and photo gallery below. I guess that about “covers” it šŸ˜›

26 thoughts on “Through the Ages: Dungeons & Dragons Cover Art

  1. Frankie Blankenship

    A wonderful trip through time… it’s really surprising to me how many of these I have gamed with.

    Reply
    1. Tim

      This is fantastic. Thanks for taking the time to do this with such care. I enjoyed looking through these, and am a fan of the way you laid them out. I’ll be back for more posts for sure!

      // Tim
      Tabletop Terrors

      Reply
      1. Shane Post author

        Thanks Tim šŸ™‚

        I really enjoyed putting this post together.

        As for the layout, I’m glad you like it… I felt just making a scrolling page was the best way to go.

        Best,
        Shane

        Reply
        1. garth

          Thanks for the artwork and the scroll…I have these all out in my garage, I’m bringin’ ’em in the house now!

          Reply
    1. Shane Post author

      Thanks for the heads up! I added the original Men & Magic cover, link was very helpful.

      Best,
      Shane

      Reply
  2. Armistace Games

    We actually have the 3rd edition redbox set as well as (once had) the 3rd Edition Core Rulebooks. We are looking at trying to regather 3.5 Edition set as we make our own tabletop rpg.
    Thank you for the walk through memory lane! Kudos!

    Reply
    1. Shane Post author

      You’re welcome šŸ™‚ The walk through memory lane was one of the reasons I did it, I wanted to take that walk as well.

      Are you saying you are making an entirely new RPG?

      Best,
      Shane

      Reply
  3. Nai Calus

    I’d include the two D&D 4e Essentials player’s books and possibly the rules compendium for same since Essentials was more or less a revision of 4e.

    Reply
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  5. Shane

    Amazing list of covers! šŸ™‚ Would be really handy if you included the illustrators as well. I’ve been finding it hard to figure out who the artists are behind those awesome covers.

    Reply
  6. Steve Nomm

    I was surprised to see that monster manual II was not listed as it is even mentioned in Wikipedia’s timeline and is a classic 1st edition release.

    Reply
  7. S. Hopkins

    Brilliant, I have a mouldy old box in my basement I had forgotten about with almost all the books from the red box to the 2nd edition books. Iā€™m going to dig it out and give it to my teenage son and tell him this is what we played before video games, maybe he will take an interest. This brought back a ton of old memories, thanks!

    Reply
  8. Mook

    Just found this page of cover images today — a little late to the party, but it was *exactly* what I was looking for! Thanks for putting this together, Shane, super useful.

    Reply
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  11. Marry Johnson

    I have been looking for something similar on subject matter… Like every time orcs have been described etc. Big job.

    Reply

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