We hate to break it to you but the value of the early release Warhammer 40k Codex books just isn’t there- they aren’t worth more.
So while the artwork on the cover may be different, there’s a much bigger difference between a true collector’s codex and an early release one.
There was talk about the Black Templars 40k launch box actually having a bigger value because of the codex book, but it doesn’t do much in reality. Why do we say there is no extra value? Well, let’s break it down!
No, These 40k Codex Books Aren’t Worth More, Here’s Why
Here’s the artwork for the regular codex (which as of this writing has not been released yet) and what GW is calling an exclusive cover codex below.
While the cover on this is different, it’s not the same thing as a collector’s edition. The three main differences are they produced an insane number of these (no real scarcity), it’s a different cover but not actually the same as the limited edition ones (no colored or foiled edges, bookmark, no extra pages, or etc…), and lastly, just not the same quality.
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A commenter on our last post about theArmy Box release not doing so well, summed up the argument perfectly:
They are exactly right here, it’s nothing more than an alternate cover. That also goes for the same price on the secondary market, so why should we accept it as a higher value Warhammer 40k codex in these early release boxes?
Well, we shouldn’t!
The Market Dictates Price
This is from a simple search and as you can see, the Thousand Sons book is going for 3x the price of a normal one. Whereas the early edition Orks codex is going for basically the exact same price as the general release one. This has a lot to do with the number made. They made somewhere upwards of 9,000 of the early release codices.
Whereas the true limited edition, GW makes about a third of that number. It’s almost like the price perfectly mirrors the numbers.
The Difference Between the Collector’s Editions
When you look at all the features on this, it obviously has way more going for it other than just a different cover. Let’s hear GW’s great description for this one:
This lavish collector’s edition hardback book has a soft-touch cover with foil blocking, printed page edges, and comes with a black 1/4″ ribbon marker.
Ooooh, so lavish. In all seriousness though they are pretty sweet. Just beware when buying these.
A Spikey Bits team member bought one recently and it was very poorly packaged. When he received it, the edges were damaged. While GW did offer a full refund, they said he could send it back, and if they had any left they would ship him a new one.
But with how limited these are, they were already sold out, meaning most likely no replacement would be provided… So while GW does generally have good customer service, if you get one of these damaged, the chances of getting a new fresh one seem to be very low.
So when it comes to the early access codex books, the secondary market has dictated the price is basically identical to the normal codex.
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Do you ever grab the Warhammer collector edition codex books? Which is the value of a Warhammer 40k codex to you?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
