Collecting STEPHEN KING First Editions

We have collected SIGNED Stephen King First Editions for many years and are often asked how to spot a true first printing or a genuine signature.

Here are the main points of note for the important early King releases:

USA Important First Printing Trade Editions

All titles are Hardback and printed by Doubleday

Carrie 1974 (25,000 to 30,000 copies)
C. $5.95. "First Edition" stated. Fully bound in maroon cloth with black endpages. P6 gutter of page 199

Salem's Lot 1975 (20,000 copies of three combined states)

• 1st state S.L. $8.95 Father Cody
• 2nd state- clipped & re-priced S.L. $7.95 Father Cody
• 3rd state-S.L. $7.95 Father Callahan "First Edition" stated

Quarter bound in black cloth with red boards. Q37 gutter of page 439 & easily damaged wrapper

The Shining 1977 (25,000 copies)
T.S. $8.95. "First Edition" stated. Quarter bound in black cloth with tan boards. R49 gutter of page 447.

Rage Signet is the publisher of this paperback 1977 (75,000 copies)
$1.50 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 printline.

Night Shift 1978 (12,000 copies)
N.S. $8.95 "First Edition" stated. Quarter bound in black cloth and red boards. S52 gutter page 336. D&Co. $8.95 price sticker was used on recalled BCE copies when true 1sts sold out.

The Stand 1978 (70,000 copies)
T.S. $12.95 "First Edition" stated. Quarter bound in black cloth with gold boards. T39 gutter page 823

The Long Walk Signet is the publisher of this paperback 1979
$2.25 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 printline.

All titles are Hardback and printed by Viking / Viking Press

The Dead Zone 1979 (50,000 copies)
$11.95 "First Published in 1979 by the Viking Press" Quarter bound in black cloth with black boards no number line or mention of later printings.

Firestarter 1980 (100,000 copies)
$13.95 "First Published in 1980 by the Viking Press" Quarter bound in orange cloth with black boards no number line or mention of later printings.

Cujo 1981 (150,000 copies)
$13.95 "First Published in 1981 by the Viking Press" Quarter bound in black cloth with tan boards
no number line or mention of later printings.

Danse Macabre Published by Everest 1981 (60,000 copies)
$13.95 RRD281 Quarter bound in maroon cloth with red boards. No numbers should precede the RRD281 code

Roadwork Signet paperback 1981
$2.25 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 printline.

The Running Man Signet paperback 1982
$2.95 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 printline.

The Dark Tower : The Gunslinger Grant 1982 (10,000 copies)
$20 & $60 " First Edition " stated. Full bound in maroon cloth limited to 10,000.

Different Seasons 1982 (200,000 copies)
$16.95 "First Published in 1982 by the Viking Press" Quarter bound in dark blue cloth with blue boards and no number line or mention of later printings.

Christine 1983 (270,000 copies)
$16.95 "First Published in 1983 by the Viking Press" Quarter bound in black cloth with red boards and no number line or mention of later printing.

Pet Sematary Doubleday printed. 1983 (250,000 copies)
$15.95 " First Edition " stated. Full bound in black cloth. Y3 gutter of page 374

Cycle of the Werewolf Land of Enchantment printed 1983 (7,500 copies)
Full bound in brown leather and dust jacket.

The Talisman 1984
$18.95 "First Published in 1984 by the Viking Press" Quarter bound in red cloth with black boards and no number line or mention of later printings.

Thinner New American Library printed 1984 (26,000 copies)
$12.95 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 printline. Quarter bound in black cloth with red boards.

Skeleton Crew Putnam printed 1985. (500,000 copies)
$18.95 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 printline. Quarter bound in black cloth and black boards.

The Bachman Books New American Library printed 1985. (25,000 copies)
$19.95 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 printline. Quarter bound in black cloth and boards.

The Bachman Books paperback by New American Library 1985. (350,000 copies)
$9.95 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

IT 1986
$22.95 "First Published in 1986 by Viking Penguin Inc." Quarter bound in black cloth and boards with no number line or mention of later printings.

The Eyes of the Dragon 1987 (400,000 copies)
$18.95 "First Published in 1987 by Viking Penguin Inc." Quarter bound in cream cloth and green boards with no number line or mention of later printings.

Misery 1987
$18.95 "First Published in 1987 by Viking Penguin Inc." Quarter bound in black cloth and grey boards with no number line or mention of later printings.

The Tommyknockers Putnam printed 1987
$19.95 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 or Permissions to Come. Quarter bound in black cloth and green boards.

The Dark Tower II : The Drawing of the Three Grant printed 1987 (30,000 copies)
$35.00 First Edition stated. Full bound in black cloth.

My Pretty Pony Knopf printed 1988 (15,000 copies)
First Trade Edition

The Dark Half 1989
$21.95 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in black cloth and black boards.

Four Past Midnight 1990 (1,500,000 copies)
$22.95 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 printline. Quarter bound in black cloth and black boards.

The Stand : Complete & Uncut Doubleday printed 1990 (400,000 copies)
$24.95 " First Trade Edition " stated. Quarter bound in black cloth and black boards.

Needful Things 1991 (1,500,000 copies)
$24.95 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in black cloth and grey boards.

The Dark Tower III : The Waste Lands Grant printed 1991 (40,000 copies)
$38.00 First Edition. Red cloth binding.

Gerald's Game 1992
$23.50 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in black cloth and black boards.

Dolores Claiborne 1993
$23.50 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in black cloth and boards.

Nightmares and Dreamscapes 1993
$27.50 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in blue cloth and black boards.

Insomnia 1994
$27.95 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in grey cloth and boards.

Rose Madder 1995
$25.95 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in black cloth and boards.

The Green Mile Signet printed paperbacks 1996
$2.99 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 printline. Released as 6 monthly paperback issues.

Desperation 1996
$27.95 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 printline. Quarter bound in tan cloth and light blue boards.

The Regulators Dutton printed 1996
$24.95 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 printline. Quarter bound in tan cloth and red boards.

The Dark Tower IV : Wizard and Glass Grant printed 1997 (40,000 copies)
$45 First Edition. Full bound in black cloth.

All titles are Hardback and printed by Scribner

Bag of Bones 1998
$28.00 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in white cloth and orange boards.

The Storm of the Century Pocket Books printed 1999
$15.00 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 printline.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon 1999
$16.95 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in black cloth and grey boards.

Hearts in Atlantis 1999
$28.00 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in black cloth with blue boards.

On Writing 2000
$25.00 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in black cloth with yellow boards.

Secret Windows Book of the Month printed 2000 Bound in black or white.

Dreamcatcher 2001
$28.00 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in purple cloth and blue boards.

Black House Random House printed 2001
$28.95 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 First Trade Edition. Quarter bound in black cloth and boards.

Everything's Eventual 2002
$28.00 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in light blue cloth and grey boards.

From a Buick 8 2002
$28.00 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 printline. Quarter bound in blue cloth and grey boards.