Unwrapping a Limited Edition 40K Space Marines Codex

I took a first look at the regular Space Marines Codex two days ago. Though the contents are obviously the same, let’s take a look at the added eye-candy offered by the Limited Edition Space Marines Codex for those extra £35,- over the unlimited version.

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#1 – Limited Edition Codexes & Me

Games Workshop’s Limited Edition line of Codexes has been something of a roller-coaster.

• The first LE Codex for 6th Edition – Chaos Space Marines – sold out in hours, fetching insane prices on eBay.
• The second – Dark Angels – upped the numbers from 1000  to 2000 worldwide.
• The third – Chaos Daemons – had 4000 worldwide. It was also the first with variant covers (1000 for each with a cover themed after one of the 4 Dark Gods). The Limited Edition Daemons Codex in particular didn’t seem to be the hot seller the previous two were.

GW has been switching up the look of the Limited Edition books with every new release, very much unlike the regular Warhammer 40K Codexes that all follow a stringent design.

The only other LE Codex I ever had, was Dark Angels. It was very much “old school”, with the Codex cover-art as a dust jacket over a strange cloth-finish that I didn’t like much.

Very different to this Limited Edition Space Marines Codex!

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#2 – The Limited Edition Space Marines Cover

The Limited Edition Codexes come with covers displaying the chapter-specific artwork also found inside the book, opening the background section for each Space Marine Chapter.

I enjoy the Raymond Swanland covers of the regular 6th Edition books. Still, I think these are better (not necessarily £35,- better, but better).

Unlike Swanland’s obviously digital art, these have the look of a hand-painted Space Marine picture (thought that may well be a fake-effect). You can see brush-strokes, etc.. making the picture, which I find very appropriate for a hobby about painting miniatures. The material feels identical to the regular Codex (unlike the odd cloth used on the Dark Angels one).

Also, the various poses for the Space Marines – like the Salamanders Marine with Flamer on this one – are very cool.

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#3 – Inside the Cover

Another difference to the regular Codex is the inside of the cover. The regular Space Marines Codex has a monochrome battle-scene showing – surprise – Space Marines (upper left corner).

The Limited Edition has the Emperor’s “And They Shall Know No Fear” quote all over it instead, along with the specific number of the Codex out of the entire limited run in the lower right corner.

Again, in contrast, the Dark Angels Limited Edition was different by giving you “your number” on a separate “Certificate” in a little envelope, and not having it printed in the book.

I greatly prefer this version. It serves the same purpose for collectors, I assume, but without a separate piece of paper that could get lost or ripped (or swapped).

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#4- Ribbon & Gold-Edged Pages

The pages are all gold-edged (fancy!) and it comes with an appropriately coloured ribbon-bookmark (green for Salamanders).

I would think the bookmark would be more useful in the regular edition, which presumably sees more game-play and would thus benefit from a bookmark to keep a page.

GW’s “Gamer Edition” Warhammer 40K Rulebook had several for just that reason.

But it’s an easy addition of “something fancy” to justify the 100% higher price.

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#5 – Thoughts?

All in all, the Limited Edition Space Marines Codex (Salamanders) is a very nice book!

Is it worth £70,-?

You’ll probably have to make that call yourself. Unlike some earlier LE Codexes (e.g. Daemons), the Space Marine ones sold out fairly quickly and – once again – fetch mad prices on eBay.

Than again, it is Space Marines!

 
What do you think?

• Did you break down and paid for a Limited Edition Codex (not necessarily Space Marines)?
• Would you consider buying a Limited Edition Codex (or Army Book) in the future?
• What would be a reason for you to buy a 40K Limited Edition (at the current £70,- pricing)?

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Z.