Stephen King "Skeleton Crew" Traycased Signed First Edition, First Printing UNCORRECTED PROOF FOR LIMITED DISTRIBUTION

Personally signed by Stephen King in 1989 with a personal inscription

A HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE & RARE SIGNED UNCORRECTED PROOF THAT WAS NEVER INTENDED FOR SALE.

G.P. Putnam's Sons 1985. Stephen King "Skeleton Crew". Uncorrected Proof for Limited Distribution. Signed by the author Stephen King directly onto the title page of the book. Softcover edition with paper wraps. True first printing. Precedes the first trade edition with the full number line as required on the copyright page.

Signed by Stephen King with personal inscription:

"For Peter, Welcome on board this ship of ghouls! Best, Stephen King 2/21/89"

Own this stunning Stephen King autograph today! Important and instantly recognizable.

It will stand the test of time, with the strongest demand from other collectors.

• Publication Date: May 1985
• Price: $18.95.
• ISBN: 0-399-1309-X
• Pages: 512

The signed Uncorrected Proof is presented in a high quality custom tray-case propduced from Asaki bookcloth. Black velvet padding on internal surfaces.

Asahi Bookcloth is imported from Japan and adds a wonderful luxury to books, boxes, portfolios, journals, albums, and other presentation and luxury packaging applications. Combining silk-like beauty with a beautiful sheen and texture have made these cloths very popular for hand bookbinding as well as for upscale production work. All cloths are paper backed for ease of glue application, and accept foil and blind stamping processes.

Uncorrected Proofs

An uncorrected proof is a printed copy of a book that needs to be reviewed for errors and corrections. They are released prior to official publication, and generally are very plainly bound, and distributed only for final editing or promotion. This kind of edition is similar to an advance review copy, though technically those copies are supposed to be finished. Often the terms "proof copy" and "review copy" are used interchangeably. Both of these kinds of editions sometimes contain a publisher's slip, with additional information about marketing or the book itself.

This type of book is often marked "not to be sold," but collectible copies of these works include rare pre-printing copies of books by well known authors.

Reference: https://www.biblio.com/book_collecting_terminology/Uncorrected-Proof-154.html

Overall, the interest in uncorrected proofs stems from a combination of their rarity, authenticity, insight into the creative process, investment potential, exclusivity, and personal connection to the book or author.

Moreover, many book collectors consider them to be the TRUE FIRST PRINTING of the book because they precede the first trade edition.

Rarity: Uncorrected proofs are often produced in limited quantities and are not meant for public distribution. This makes them more rare and desirable for collectors.

Authenticity: Uncorrected proofs are the early versions of a book that are sent to reviewers, booksellers, and industry professionals before the final publication. Collectors appreciate the authenticity and historical value of owning these pre-publication copies.

Insight into the creative process: Uncorrected proofs often contain errors, typos, and unfinished elements, providing a glimpse into the author's creative process and the evolution of the book before it reaches its final form. This can be fascinating for book enthusiasts and collectors.

Investment potential: Collectible uncorrected proofs can appreciate in value over time, especially if the book becomes highly sought after or if the author gains significant popularity. Some collectors see them as potential investments that may increase in value in the future.

Not all uncorrected proofs are signed, making this one even more special.

Exclusivity: Owning an uncorrected proof can make a collector feel like they have a unique and exclusive item that only a select few possess. This exclusivity adds to the appeal and desirability of these collectibles.

Personal connection: Some readers and collectors may have a personal connection or attachment to a particular book or author. Owning an uncorrected proof can be seen as a way to feel closer to the author and their work.

Skeleton Crew

Skeleton Crew is a collection of short fiction by American writer Stephen King, published by Putnam in June 1985. A limited edition of a thousand copies was published by Scream/Press in October 1985 (ISBN 978-0910489126), illustrated by J. K. Potter, containing an additional short story, "The Revelations of 'Becka Paulson", which had originally appeared in Rolling Stone magazine (July 19 – August 2, 1984), and was later incorporated into King's 1987 novel The Tommyknockers. The original title of this book was Night Moves.

Stephen King’s #1 New York Times bestseller—an anthology of stories from the outer limits of the imagination!

From one of the greatest storytellers in modern times comes this classic collection of twenty-two works of fright and wonder…unforgettable tales that will take you to where your darkest fears await. Whether it’s a mysterious impenetrable mist camouflaging bizarre, otherworldly terrors that could herald the destruction of humanity…or an eerie-looking child’s toy that harbors an unimaginable evil…or four college students on a deserted lake encountering something that crosses the boundary of sanity…or a man suddenly given the omnipotent ability to quite literally edit his own reality…the extraordinary narratives found in Skeleton Crew are the enduring and irresistible proof that Stephen King is a true master of the short fiction form.

Background

In the introduction to Skeleton Crew (1985), his second collection of stories, King pokes fun at his penchant for "literary elephantiasis," makes scatological jokes about his muse, confesses how much money he makes (gross and net), and tells a story about getting arrested one time when he was "suffused with the sort of towering, righteous rage that only drunk undergraduates can feel." He winds up with an invitation to a scary voyage: "Grab onto my arm now. Hold tight. We are going into a number of dark places, but I think I know the way."

And he sure does. Skeleton Crew contains a superb short novel ("The Mist") that alone is worth the price of admission, plus two forgettable poems and 20 short stories on such themes as an evil toy monkey, a human-eating water slick, a machine that avenges murder, and unnatural creatures that inhabit the thick woods near Castle Rock, Maine. The short tales range from simply enjoyable to surprisingly good.

In addition to "The Mist," the real standout is "The Reach," a beautifully subtle story about a great-grandmother who was born on a small island off the coast of Maine and has lived there her whole life. She has never been across "the Reach," the body of water between island and mainland. This is the story that King fans give to their friends who don't read horror in order to show them how literate, how charming a storyteller he can be. Don't miss it.

About Stephen King

Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books. As of 2011, King has written and published 49 novels, including seven under the pen name Richard Bachman, five non-fiction books, and nine collections of short stories. Many of his stories are set in his home state of Maine.

King has received Bram Stoker Awards, World Fantasy Awards, British Fantasy Society Awards, his novella The Way Station was a Nebula Award novelette nominee, and in 2003, the National Book Foundation awarded him the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He has also received awards for his contribution to literature for his whole career, such as the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement (2004), the Canadian Booksellers Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2007) and the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America (2007).