Out of the Suitcase #8: ​the 20th Anniversary Edition Call of Cthulhu Rulebook

Chaosium President Rick Meints shares stories from a life-time as a collector of all things Chaosium

The Call of Cthulhu RPG turned 20 in 2001. In August that year Chaosium produced a special edition "leatherette" binding of the 5th edition rulebook (5.6 if you want to be precise). 

The standard CHA2399 version, which came shrink-wrapped, has a red foil arcane symbol on the front cover. A further 300 gold foil numbered editions were also done.

Call of Cthulhu contributors received one of 50 special copper foil versions that also had a named deity written in them (Abhoth in this photo). Rarer still are the 20 "Farewell Gen Con" numbered ones done for Gen Con 2002, and the 10 "Farewell Origins" numbered ones done for the Origins 2002 convention.

Surprisingly, in our archives we still have the address stamp used, along with the wrapping paper and the twine too.

It's 2021, and it's now the 40th anniversary of Call of Cthulhu. We have some special items underway to mark this milestone. Look out for these later this year!