Up for auction is a truly "once-in-a-blue-moon" find for the mechanical puzzle community: the Official Records of the 32nd International Puzzle Party (IPP32) held in Washington, D.C., in August 2012.
This is not just a book; it is a historical record of one of the most significant gatherings in the puzzle world. IPP events are strictly invitation-only, with attendance usually capped at around 400 of the world’s top collectors and designers. Consequently, these souvenir books were produced in extremely limited quantities and almost never appear on the secondary market.
This specific copy comes from the esteemed collection of Bill Darah, a beloved and highly respected figure in the puzzle community. Following his passing, a few select items from his curated library are being made available to the public. Owning a piece from the Darah collection is a mark of distinction for any serious collector.
This volume is in pristine, collector-grade condition.
It has been meticulously preserved and looks as if it were handed to an attendee yesterday.
IPP32 was a "watershed" event for the organization. As noted in the introduction by Chris Morgan, this was the year Jerry Slocum—the legendary founder of the IPP—officially announced his retirement from actively running the parties. The book contains:
I have intentionally not included photographs of the internal puzzle solution pages. Out of respect for the designers and the integrity of the IPP community, I believe it is only fair that these solutions remain "for eyes only" of the eventual owner. This ensures the challenge and mystery of these world-class puzzles are preserved for the buyer.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to add a "Holy Grail" item to your puzzle library while honoring the legacy of a great collector.
Shipping determined at close of auction.