
The pages for the DMG were apparently printed 16 to a sheet (8 on the front and 8 on the back), known as a signature, then cut to be bound in the book. However, at least a few copies were purchased by customers before the recall and remain in circulation. Once the error was detected, the books were recalled, the covers were removed, the correct pages were inserted, and the books were rebound with the old covers (see Second Print Beta below).

Johnson relates in his interview that copies of this print went out to retailers via outer shipping.

According to Harold Johnson in Collectable Toys and Values and 'The Story of TSR' in the Silver Anniversary Collector's Set, this print had sixteen pages of the Monster Manual (Fourth Print) mistakenly bound within.
