Hi
This is a copy/Paste of the examination of the Alternate Fourth Edition Rule Book Versus a regular one by Tav:
cataclysm80 wrote:Ok, I've been wanting to compare these for months, and finally got around to it.
Here's the results...
Regular 4th on the Left
Alternate 4th on the Right
cataclysm80 wrote: Next I got out the black light.
With the black light, there is a noticeable color difference in person, though it's difficult to get the camera to pick it up.
In person, the Alt 4th booklet has an orange hue, similar to the way MTG Rivals card backs appear under black light.
cataclysm80 wrote: Again, Regular 4th on the Left
Alternate 4th on the Right
(The vertical alignment of the bottom line of text here is the same on both booklets. They only look different due to the way one was cut. There is bound to be some cutting variation with booklets, just like off center cards.)
cataclysm80 wrote:The difference under black light is more noticeable on the back, and also on other light colored surfaces.
cataclysm80 wrote: Regular 4th on the Top
Alternate 4th on the Bottom
The Alt 4th booklet does not have the Garfield Games logo.
I'm not sure if there are multiple variations of regular 4th booklets. If so, there could also be regular 4th booklets without the Garfield Games logo.
Duelist prices are the same in both booklets.
cataclysm80 wrote: The black light can be used to identify booklets in the same way that it's used for identifying cards.
(If the other booklets in the background don't appear as bright, it's because they're inside a 9 pocket binder page instead of directly in the light.)
cataclysm80 wrote: Again, Regular 4th on the Top
Alternate 4th on the Bottom
They have different advertising for the Pocket Players Guide.
Again, IF there are multiple variations of the regular 4th booklet, it's possible that the newer advertisement could be found in it.
cataclysm80 wrote: Again, Regular 4th on the Left
Alternate 4th on the Right
This is inside the front cover.
The words appear to be the same, but the line breaks are in different places.
Again, the Alternate 4th booklet does not have the Garfield Games logo.
I'm not sure whether a regular 4th booklet without the Garfield Games logo exists.
There could be more than one version of regular 4th booklet, but there is likely only one version of Alt 4th booklet.
cataclysm80 wrote: Again, Regular 4th on Top
Alternate 4th on Bottom
The bottom line here on the Alternate 4th booklet has added ", U.S.A", and that addition resulted in a different font size for the line.
I'm pretty confident that even if multiple variations of regular 4th edition booklets existed, None of them would say USA like the Alternate 4th booklet does.
This makes identification pretty straightforward. No black light required.
cataclysm80 wrote: Again, Regular 4th on Top
Alternate 4th on Bottom
Different Printer Liaisons.
I bet those guys know some interesting things that they aren't allowed to talk about. :)
Additionally, on the right side, the Alternate 4th booklet has again removed the text reference to Garfield Games.
The capitalization of Wizards of the Coast is also different in one spot.
cataclysm80 wrote: The booklets both have the same number of pages, and each numbered page seems to contain identical information in each booklet.
Even the line breaks and image locations are the same from what I could tell.
This Regular 4th edition booklet is one that I opened myself back when 4th edition was still the newest core set available. It's been stored in this same 9 pocket binder page since then.
Unfortunately, I don't recall what retail price was printed on the deck box that this booklet came from.
This Alternate 4th edition booklet was in a starter deck opened by Henry Waldron. He opened a lot of them and sent this one to me with the deck box it came in.