Editing OD&D Rules Material (section)

===On magic items, sale and experience value=== 
The sale of magical items is fraught with peril.  Their value and specialization means that one cannot simply go into a shop and start haggling; a buyer must first be obtained.  Once the word goes out that an item of power is for sale, the possibility of thievery (or assassination pursuant to thievery) must be addressed; many desperate individuals will crave such a valuable object. By extension, flashing around magical items in any circumstance is probably unwise.  The other option is rare and unusual markets where neutrality is enforced by entities of substantial supernatural power.  
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In any event, while the price obtained (via barter or outright sale) will always be variable, no XP is gained for the sale of a magic item, nor for its "value" as such.  Instead, each month at the time of paying their upkeep costs, the PC owning and using a magical item will receive bonus XP dependent on the power of items in their continuous possession.  Magic arms and armor will grant 100 XP per plus, rings and other continually worn items will grant a similar award in proportion to their potency.  Potions and scrolls will grant XP only once, to the user of the item.  Items giving a variable plus (such as a +1 sword that is +3 against trolls) will give the greater value after any month in which the specially designated creature is fought with the weapon.
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A PC can gain this award only once per item type per month - one weapon, armor, ring, etc.  Wondrous items of a particular non-personal function (such as a bag of holding) do not grant XP, but are of course quite useful in their own right.  
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Magical swords are thoroughly distinct from other magical weapons.  They will almost invariably have special powers and attributes, are likely to be intelligent or possess an alignment, and their basic bonus applies only to-hit, and not to damage.  While an enchanted hammer may aid immeasurably in the workaday battering down of foes, even the least of magical swords brings some peril along with power.