1. Shaun Weiss asks "How old were you when you started to write horror books? As a child would you know you be a writer?"
As a boy King found a box of fantasy horror fiction books and stories that had belonged to his father, and he read them all. By the time King was seven he had begun writing his own stories. He enjoyed watching science fiction and monster movies.
"Writing has always been it for me," King indicated in a panel discussion at the 1984 World Fantasy Convention in Ottawa, Canada. Science fiction and adventure stories comprised his first literary efforts. King began submitting short fiction to magazines when he was twelve. He had no success at that time selling his stories, but he did win first prize in an essay competition sponsored by a scholastic magazine. In high school King authored a small, satiric (poking fun at human weakness) newspaper entitled The Village Vomit. He published his first story at eighteen in a magazine called Comics Review.
King graduated from high school in 1966.
Reference - encyclopedia.com
2. Howard Auerbach asks " Are you going to reprint "The Plant" I was able to get first six chapters. But the final chapters were never printed online and cant get final story anywhere."
There are no plans to reprint The Plant at this time. You can download all Six Parts of The Plant in e-book format from Stephen King's official website here:
The Plant - download all six parts.
Related book: The Plant - Signed Matching Set
3. Jodi Ford asks "How collectable are editions that have a facsimile of Stephen King’s signature & which booksellers are trustworthy to give accurate descriptions"
They are somewhat collectible but many of them have not seen a value appreciation. Obviously they will never be as valuable as a book with a real signature. The majority of serious King collectors would prefer not to have a limited edition with a fake autograph in their library.
For example, in 1992 Hodder & Stoughton published a slipcased limited edition of Dolores Claiborne (limitation of 2,000) with a facsimile signature. This book has not gone up in value and can be found for purchase around its original issue price. The reproduction autograph is not very desirable to many avid collectors.
Furthermore, the "autographs" in these books will be identical without any variation. If the author had in fact signed each one individually, they would all be just a little different, as expected.
This UK Limited Edition of Dolores Claiborne has a bookplate with a facsimile autograph.
Part two : There are thousands of online bookseller to choose from. Many of them are trust-worthy with accurate descriptions. Ask yourself: how many photos (if any) did they post of more valuable books? How in depth is their condition description? Do they have guarantees for your online purchase? How quickly do they respond to your questions and how knowledgeable are they about their books? These are some of the questions to ask in order to get a better feel for their trustworthiness. Good luck in your search.
4. Bonnie I'Anson asks:
1. How does a fake signature on a 1st edition King affect the value?
2. Want is the best way to protect your collection?
See question #1. A fake signature on a collectible first edition will have a negative effect. A collector would rather have an unsigned original first edition than one with a fake signature. A fake signature is merely writing inside the book, nothing more.
2. Keep your collection in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight and pests. For the more valuable items, place in (non-sealed) plastic bags. We recommend keeping insurance for a valuable library in case disaster strikes.
For a complete guide to caring for your collection, read this article: Caring For Your Collectible Books
5. Scott Krasche has 2 questions:
1. "Gutter codes. There’s list saying what the code is for a first (in terms of Doubledays) - but is there a logic to figuring out what the codes mean?"
2. "More esoteric - is there any rhyme or reason as to why some books get limited/small press editions and not others? Is it some sort of contract issue?"
1. You are referring to the gutter codes of some books, like the 1978 first edition of The Stand by Doubleday. This has a gutter code of "T39" on page 823, which serves as one of the identifying first printing issue points.
Here is a reference from the dark tower forums:
"Doubleday Gutter code theory:
"Hypothesis- The letter in the Doubleday gutter code indicates the year the book was PRINTED. The number is the week of the year the printing was done.
Keep in mind a book could be printed during the last several weeks of a calendar year but not be released until several weeks later and thus be released in a different year than the printing occurred.
(This is for 1st edition 1st printings)
Carrie-------- Released in 1974. P6 gutter code 4=P. Printed the 6th week of 1974.
'Salem's Lot-Released in 1975. Q37 gutter code 5=Q Printed the 37th week of 1975.
The Shining RELEASED in 1977. Gutter code R49. 6=R Printed the 49th week of 1976.
Night Shift RELEASED in 1978. Gutter code S52. 7=S Printed the 52nd week of 1977.
The Stand released 1978. Gutter code T39. 8=T Printed the 39th week of 1978.
Pet Semetary released 1983. Gutter code Y38 3=Y Printed the 38th week of 1983."
Please also reference: isfdb.org
"The gutter code was used by Doubleday, both for their trade and book club printings, from mid-1958 to mid-1987. Collectors have deciphered this code as an indicator of when the book was manufactured. The codes are stamped in the gutter of one of the last printed pages in a publication, usually the last page of text. Non-first edition trade printings and book club edition (BCE) printings do not contain explicit statements of edition or printing dates, so the gutter code is the only way to date them reliably if secondary sources such as book club announcement fliers are not available.
Please note that "gutter code" is an informal name used by book collectors. Doubleday and the Science Fiction Book Club (SFBC) have never formally acknowledged their existence."
2. This is most likely a contract issue with the author. There are many trademark and legal issues associated with producing limited edition publications. Every book will be different , varying in limitation size, design, illustrations, signature page, and so forth. That's what makes collecting so exciting. Some limited editions are more desirable than others, especially the ones with a print run of 500 or fewer.
6. Peter Dennis Pautz asks:
1: "Where to obtain original DJs to replace old torn ones?"
2: "How to find a specific number of the Grant edition of THE GUNSLINGER?"
1. Sometimes original dust-jackets can be found at auction. Some publishers offer dust-jackets directly on their website for books which are now Out-Of-Print. For example, Suntup Editions offers dust-jackets for their books here. In some cases, dust-jackets may not be offered directly for online purchase from the publisher's website. Contact them directly (email or phone number) and ask them if they have any extra.
2. If you are referring to the original 1982 numbered signed limited edition of The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger, it will probably be next to impossible to find an exact number. Since only 500 exist, this book rarely comes up for sale. And if it does, there is a only a 1 to 500 chance that it will be the exact number you are looking for. Advice - visit some popular Stephen King online forums and create a post of the number you are looking for. Perhaps another collector will see it and offer to sell theirs.
7. Anthony Bryant wants to know: "I have two signed books. What is the best way to verify if a Stephen King signature is authentic?"
Many of you have asked this same question: For a non-signed limited edition, how do I know that the signature is real and that I’m not stuck with a fake?
When dealing with signed books, you want to be extra careful about this, to ensure that it is indeed genuine. Otherwise you will have something that is worthless or close to worthless. In fact, a first edition with a fake signature may be worth less than the exact same first edition without a signature at all. As many of you have already pointed out, it is always best to buy from a reputable bookseller, especially one who has a catalog of other signed books by the same author. A reputable bookseller will exercise extreme care in offering books that are genuine.
Any such bookseller will go to great lengths to guarantee that their offerings are genuine. For example, whenever we acquire a new signed book for resale, we examine it very closely to ensure that the autograph is real and not a facsimile, stamp or auto-pen. In making a determination on the signature, we consider a wide range of writing analysis tests including writing surface, writing instrument, ink comparisons, area measurements and slant, pen pressure and angle, letter size and formation, flow, and other similar characteristics. In some cases, we may even consult with an outside source on autographs that appear to be suspect.
Before purchase, you should see a close-up detail of the autograph and even get a second opinion. Always make sure that if there is any doubt you do not have the real thing, that you have the option to return it for a full refund.
As you already know, when King writes his name inside a book, it increases the value by many hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars. For this reason, he is one of the most forged authors out there.
Watch out for stamps, auto-pens, and facsimile autographs. Any professional will be able to carefully examine such a suspect autograph to identify the attributes of such an "autograph".
Another way to determine if the autograph is genuine is to recognize the fact that an author’s autograph changes over time. For example, a King inscription from 1980 will look entirely different from one in 2010. The autograph should be period-correct.
Below is a sample of King autographs from the past to present. You can see how his autograph has evolved over the decades.
8. Hans von Wirth wants to know:
1) "What is the best strategy for someone who is not financially blessed but would love to own a signed Stephen King book?"
2) "What do you think is the most luxurious Edition of all King Books?"
1. Try online auctions, facebook marketplace, estate sales, and rare book fairs. On some occasions, a bookseller may wish to remove inventory that has been sitting for a long time, so it never hurts to make a reasonable offer. You may also consider joining online Stephen King forums where collectors sell their signed books directly to other collectors.
2. The 1990 Signed Limited Edition of The Stand is one of the most luxurious King editions of all time. It's bound in premium black leather with gilded page edges. It has been called by many fans as "the top of the line" in Stephen King signed collector's edition. The Stand is also one of his most popular novels. A true classic. You can view many photos of this book here.
The S/L edition of THE STAND, on the wish-list of many book collectors.
9. Chantal Voogt-Foppele
How will I know for sure that the signature is real, because you only hear that King hardly signs any books?
Do signed books come with a certicate to prove the signature is real?
For the first part of this question, please refer to Question #7 from above. In terms of COAs , some booksellers do issue these with signed books that are not signed limited editions. Keep in mind, however, that a COA is only as valid as the bookseller that issues it. Printing a COA is a trivial matter and we have seen quite a few fake "signed" books that include a so called "COA" to make it appear more authentic. Purchase from a reputable bookseller that specializes in the types of books you are looking for. That way, any included COA along with provenance materials adds to the authenticity of the autograph. If still in doubt, get a second or even a third opinion from someone who knows autographs.
10. Tom Draheim asks "Why is it difficult for Stephen King completists to find a first edition paperback of Firestarter?"
Hi Tom, there are several softcover first editions of Firestarter available online. Please email or call us and we will help you find one. This is not a book we would normally list.
11. Kimberley Heath want to know: "In King’s early books it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a trade edition and book club edition."
The early books have some clear identifying attributes. For example, Carrie will have a price of $5.95 on the dust-jacket and also state FIRST EDITION on the copyright page. Here is an additional resource for this:
First Editions and Identification – Is it a first edition or a Book Club Edition? Now you will know. Here is a complete list of all novels, starting with CARRIE up to present. A table that includes publisher information, cover photo, and all first edition issue points for each. You can search by title, publication date, etc.
12. Stephen Michael Robinson wants to know:
1) "Are there any Richard Bachman books out there that are available for collectors?"
2) "Is there a good way to verify that a signed book is really signed by Stephen King?"
As many of your already know, Richard Bachman (1977–1985) is a pen name (as well as fictional character) of American horror fiction author Stephen King with the following bibliography:
- Rage (1977)
- The Long Walk (1979)
- Roadwork (1981)
- The Running Man (1982)
- Thinner (1984)
- The Bachman Books (1985, collection)
- The Regulators (1996)
- Blaze (2007)
1. Many of these hardcover and softcover first edition books are now quite collectible. They are worth more than their original issue price, some considerably more. The first book under the pseudonym Richard Bachman was Rage (originally titled Getting It On). Due to the controversial nature of the book plot, Stephen King allowed Rage to go out of print out of fear that it may inspire similar events, as it had already been associated with two previous high school shootings.
A nice first printing of Rage recently sold at auction for more than $1,300.
2. Refer to question no. 7 above.
13. Martin Reid want to know:
1. "Are UK FIRST Editions worth collecting?"
2. "Are cemetery dance books worth buying?"
1. There are many UK first editions worth collecting. In fact, some collectors prefer the UK books over the US versions due to their more elaborate artistic nature, and sometimes higher production quality. It is true that some of the first edition UK books are even more collectible and valuable than the US first editions.
For example, the UK First Edition of THE STAND (1979) had a print run of fewer than 1,000 copies.
The US First Edition of THE STAND (1978) had a print run of 70,000 copies, quite a big difference.
2. Cemetery Dance books are certainly worth buying due to their high production quality. Over several decades, they have produced some of the most sought after Stephen King signed limited and signed lettered editions. Many of their high end books are luxuriously bound with full genuine leather and some even have gilded page edges.
Here is just a small sample of some of the great books from Cemetery Dance Publications.
THANK YOU FOR READING.