Looking to get full art spine versions what are they called?

[drmanhattan]

What is the name of the original book versions without green spines but had the sort of front cover art or colour on the spine and on the back, 
and how much do those go for these days, I think only the first few books had this style, anyone know which? I seem to remember a site somewhere showing the different cover images/styles but did it show the spine art?

I also want the big white number on the front in a like big circular star type shape 

boardgamegeek.com/image/562828/citadel-chaos
as example


maybe it’s the early covers section here, shows only 1-7 is that the only ones in this style?
www.mocagh.org/loadpage.php?numrows=161&getcompany=fforig&series=All&npp=25&start=0

but am I confusing 2 versions? The individual coloured spines and backs (not green) is more important than the star 

[a moderator]

The green spines as standard started with Scorpion Swamp, so it was just the first 7 FF titles and the first two Sorcery! gamebooks (plus Spell Book) that had the earlier design.

The Warlock of Firetop Mountain had two pre-green spine variants: originally it had the cover illustration spanning the spine and back (and no number in a star, because the numbering didn't start until there was moere than one book), but there was also a version with a brown spine and back cover (which did get a number in a star).

When I rebuilt my gamebook collection in 2001-2002 I had no trouble getting pre-green spine versions of all the books that had them for reasonable prices. A little over two decades on, that might not be so easy.

[Wizard Slayer]

On eBay (UK) these versions seem to go at auction for about £5 - £15. You ca pay £10  - £20 as Buy It Now. So you should be able to get them all relatively easily, and for maybe £50 - £75 in total if you're patient.

[drmanhattan]

Thanks
sorry I should have been clearer
I mean is there a way to search for these editions, like are they "1st edition" or "Puffin original" or something.

[a moderator]

I don't know if there is a commonly used term for them.

All first editions of the relevant titles will have the sort of cover you're after, but not all the copies that meet your requirements will be first editions. My pre-green spine editions of Warlock, Forest, City and Deathtrap are all reprints.

[The Editor (Alex B)]

Info here: fightingfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Puffin_Book_Cover_Formats

[drmanhattan]

Thanks a lot everyone, snagged myself a nice set a bit more than Wizard Slayer thought but worth it

[Wizard Slayer]

£50 - £75 was if you were going to be patient, only buying at auction and preferring to lose auctions than bid high  

That you got them all a day later suggests you didn't, but if you're happy with what you paid that's the main thing!