"Book Of The Dead" Slipcased Signed Limited Edition No. 390 of 500 [Fine/Fine]

Personally signed by all 18 contributors (16 authors and 2 editors), including Stephen King, Richard Laymon, and Robert R. McCammon. 

Willimantic, CT. Mark V. Ziesing Publishers 1989 "The Book Of The Dead". Slipcased signed limited edition of only 500 produced. Hardcover book with dust-jacket. This is number 390. Very Fine without any flaws. Signed by all the contributors, including Stephen King, Richard Laymon, and Robert R. McCammon. 334 pages.

This is the landmark horror anthology featuring zombie stories by luminaries like Stephen King, Douglas E. Winter, and Robert R. McCammon.

Edited by John Skipp and Craig Spector.

Cover artwork by: J.K. Potter

Edition Specifications

Format: Hardcover with slipcase, bound in premium cloth

Signature Status: Signed by the editors and 16 contributing authors

Notable Signatures: Stephen King, Robert R. McCammon, Richard Laymon, and Joe R. Lansdale

Notable Omission: The foreword writer, George Romero, and the illustrators did not sign

The Signature List

The limitation page is signed by the editors and all contributing authors (18 signatures in total), with the notable exception of George A. Romero, who wrote the foreword but did not sign the book

The book features signatures from the following individuals:

1. John Skipp (Editor)
2. Craig Spector (Editor)
3. Stephen King
4. Robert R. McCammon
5. Richard Laymon
6. Joe R. Lansdale
7. Ramsey Campbell
8. David J. Schow
9. Ed Bryant
10. Steve Rasnic Tem
11. Les Daniels
12. Douglas E. Winter
13. Steven R. Boyett
14. Thomas F. Monteleone
15. Al Sarrantonio
16. Nicholson Baker
17. Nancy A. Collins
18. Skipp & Spector (Co-signer)

A highly sought-after 1989 signed limited edition horror anthology

The highly sought-after 1989 signed limited edition of the horror anthology Book of the Dead (edited by John Skipp and Craig Spector) is considered a "holy grail" for collectors for several key reasons:

Star-Studded Signatures: The limitation of 500 copies is unique because the book is personally signed not only by the editors, but also by 16 of its visionary contributors—most notably Stephen King (who contributed the short story "Home Delivery").

Genre Milestone: It serves as a monumental tribute to George A. Romero's classic Night of the Living Dead, featuring a foreword by Romero himself and stories that revolutionized modern zombie and horror fiction.

Small Print Run: The strict print cap of 500 copies (published by Mark V. Ziesing) creates a massive imbalance in supply and demand, especially considering the global size of Stephen King's fanbase.

Premium Presentation: These editions feature high-quality binding, unique patterned endpapers, and are housed in custom illustrated slipcases.

Historical Significance: It represents a golden era of small-press horror publishing from the late 1980s, making it highly valued by both general book collectors and dedicated horror enthusiasts.

Book of the Dead

Book of the Dead is an anthology of horror stories first published in 1989, edited by John Skipp and Craig Spector and featuring a foreword written by George A. Romero (erroneously credited as George R. Romero in first print editions of the book). All the stories in the anthology are united by the same premise seen in Romero's apocalyptic films, depicting a worldwide outbreak of zombies and various reactions to it. The first book was followed three years later by a follow-up, Still Dead: Book of the Dead 2, with a new group of writers tackling the same premise, though the second book put the stories in order according to their imagined chronology of the zombie takeover.

The Book of the Dead compilations are regarded as classic anthologies in the horror and splatterpunk genres, featuring a great number of famous names including Stephen King, Joe R. Lansdale, Robert R. McCammon and foreworded by George A. Romero and Tom Savini. They are likely the first anthologies of zombie-themed tales ever printed, and have been cited as perhaps the first true "zombie literature" as such.

According to author Ian McDowell, a third anthology was planned back in 1991. However, bad luck led to it going "through many permutations and publishers over the years. I've been paid for my story by two different publishers and I've proofed two different sets of galleys." Cemetery Dance finally released it under the title Mondo Zombie in 2006.

Anthology contents

Book of the Dead

Foreword by George A. Romero (credited as George R. Romero in first print editions)

"Introduction: On Going Too Far, or Flesh Eating Zombies: New Hope for the Future" by Skipp and Spector
"Blossom" by Chan McConnell (pseudonym for David J. Schow) 
"Mess Hall" by Richard Laymon
"It Helps If You Sing" by Ramsey Campbell
"Home Delivery" by Stephen King
"Wet Work" by Phillip Nutman
"A Sad Last Love at the Diner of the Damned" by Edward Bryant
"Bodies and Heads" by Steve Rasnic Tem
"Choices" by Glen Vasey
"The Good Parts" by Les Daniels
"Less than Zombie" by Douglas E. Winter
"Like Pavlov's Dogs" by Steven R. Boyett
"Saxophone" by Nicholas Royle
"On the Far Side of the Cadillac Desert With Dead Folks" by Joe R. Lansdale
"Dead Giveaway" by Brian Hodge
"Jerry's Kids Meet Wormboy" by David J. Schow
"Eat Me" by Robert R. McCammon