Do You Collect 1st Editions?

[bigkingfan91]

If you are like me and like to collect Stephen King books, do you collect some of the rare 1st editions too, or just what you can find and afford? Personally I don't have thousands or even hundreds to spend on some of the rare 1st editions, so I doubt i'll ever have some of those unless I find some ultra rare deals lol. I see folks finding deals on them all the time in stores like the Goodwill, etc. but we don't really have many of those anywhere nearby, without taking a road trip.

As far as Kings first few books go, I love those original covers, so even if they aren't true 1st editions I like to get those if possible. Many of the first few with the near same covers as the 1st editions are book club editions, so I like to get those if they are the same size as the normal hardcovers. Carrie, Salem's Lot, The Shining, The Stand, etc. I just notice in many collections I see, folks have the hardbacks with the original covers, and I always wonder if those are 1st editions or re prints of some kind, maybe even book club editions. It drives me nuts trying to get all the different editions of both hardback and paperback, but I love collecting.

I know there is already a thread for this, but if anyone wants to post collection photos, you are more then welcome! If it is ok with the moderators. Thanks!

 

[skimom2]

Not consciously, until recently. I have a buttload (that's a technical term, you know ;D) of first editions, but all are well-loved (read: hammered): I bought them as they were released and have read them over and over I've been looking for 1st eds. just recently, at secondhand stores, but I don't really care if I get them or not, as long as I have at least one copy of the actual books in HB. I killed I think 4 copies of The Stand (just through reading--I'm pretty good with my books) before I got a HB. It's a book club edition, though--I would replace that one with a standard HB, just because I like the size better. That's one I've not seen secondhand for a very long while, though. I only have a couple of PBs left, mostly for sentimental reasons.

 

[CordialJim]

I collect as many 1st editions as I can, specifically 1st printings. All of my stuff has come from either Amazon (the newer stuff) or used books/thrift stores/hand-me-downs (the older stuff). When I first started reading King back in '83 it was mostly mass markets for me. Later, when I got back into King, I started acquiring hardbacks (with some trade paperbacks sprinkled in). I only have two limited edition books (Dark Tower's). If I see any at the used books stores I'll grab 'em. but I don't see them very often. While I'd love to have them in my collection, the limited editions (and certainly the signed books) are just too expensive for me. My wife would kill me if I started coming home with limited edition Stephen King books. I can't go there.

 

[king family fan]

I collect mostly first editions but if I have one thats not. I try to get a first to replace it when possable.

 

[kingricefan]

I started collecting King 1st's way back in the late 80's, so I guess you could say I've been lucky that I didn't have to spend hundreds on, say, a 1st printing of The Shining or even Carrie, because the prices weren't so bad back then. I have been able over the years to expand my collecting to include alot of the signed/limiteds. I was finally able to aquire a couple of years ago, what was to me, the Holy Grail of limiteds- the Doubleday signed/limited of The Stand. It's the most I ever paid for a King book and technically I shouldn't have bought it but it's one that I have wanted for my collection ever since it was published and I was too poor then to afford it.

 

[GNTLGNT]

....I have a few first editions, but it was just luck of the draw-nothing I actively sought...and was just tickled when I realized I had gotten one...

 

[Spideyman]

Not a real collector as such, usually try to purchase the new book as published, so do have a few first editions.

 

[BeverleyMarsh]

....I have a few first editions, but it was just luck of the draw-nothing I actively sought...and was just tickled when I realized I had gotten one...

 

[The Nameless]

I have no idea what mine are, or if our versions even count (UK), they don't seem to follow the general system. For example, my hard cover Hearts in atlantis (UK, Hodder & Stoughton) has the generic copyright notice: "the right of stephen king to be identified........" then underneath "10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1" then more disclaimers.

My Mr Mercedes, UK Hodder & Stoughton is like this:

the right of stephen king to be identified........

4

First Hodder hardcover edition June 2014

My Dr Sleep is the same, but with the number 1 on its own, and September 2013, as is WTTKH. My 11/22/63 has a similar layout, but but doesn't say First Hodder hardcover edition - it just has the disclaimer, 1, more disclaimers. My H/C IT just says in text "Eighth impression". My smaller hardcover of the stand uncut has no numbers on the cr page except for "CN3446" - whatever that means.

If getting them new, even the UK versions counts, then I have 1st editions of 11/22/63, WTTKH, Joyland, Dr Sleep, Mr Mercedes.

At the end of the day, 1st editions are nice and all, and 1st/1st erronious Salems Lot copies are a nice investment, but for me, my favourite book is my 1st, and I like it more because it is falling apart and has character. If my Hard cover of IT was a 1st edition, and I had to save just one from a fire, it would be my grotty paperback version without a thought.

 

[Kurben]

I just collect King. If they happen to be firsts thats an extra plus but nothing essential. Also, i'm a poor guy so can't afford to spend too much (the prices in Sweden...) so mostly buy pocketbooks (or it paperback? never really sure). But i make sure they are all in english. Don't want to read King in translation. Had a lot of hardcover firsteditions sweden but i bought english pockets instead.

 

[swiftdog2.0]

I have a few from several different authors. I like the specialty printing editions as well. For example, I have some Grant editions of the Dark Tower series and the signed Japanese cloth bound Centipede Press edition of 'Salem's Lot.

 

[Lets Rock]

I think there is a link somewhere that explains how to identify a true first edition but not sure where. I have some that are the first edition printed by a particular publisher.but not sure where they're placed as editions.
I usually take the dust jackets off while reading but they're books and I have to read them.
I actually prefer old preloved books to crisp new ones and when I have too many I pass them along so someone else can enjoy them. I hope paper books continue. I have books my grandmother purchased and have been enjoyed by generations. They will be passed to future generations. Digital books probably have the destiny of casset tapes.

 

[morgan]

I think there is a link somewhere that explains how to identify a true first edition but not sure where. I have some that are the first edition printed by a particular publisher.but not sure where they're placed as editions.
I usually take the dust jackets off while reading but they're books and I have to read them.
I actually prefer old preloved books to crisp new ones and when I have too many I pass them along so someone else can enjoy them. I hope paper books continue. I have books my grandmother purchased and have been enjoyed by generations. They will be passed to future generations. Digital books probably have the destiny of casset tapes.

If you go to the home page under FAQ click on "How can I tell if I have a first edition? "

 

[morgan]

If you go to the home page under FAQ click on "How can I tell if I have a first edition? "

It's under FAQ here on the message board too!

 

[Neesy]

I think there is a link somewhere that explains how to identify a true first edition but not sure where. I have some that are the first edition printed by a particular publisher.but not sure where they're placed as editions.
I usually take the dust jackets off while reading but they're books and I have to read them.
I actually prefer old preloved books to crisp new ones and when I have too many I pass them along so someone else can enjoy them. I hope paper books continue. I have books my grandmother purchased and have been enjoyed by generations. They will be passed to future generations. Digital books probably have the destiny of casset tapes.

If you go to the home page under FAQ click on "How can I tell if I have a first edition? "

It's under FAQ here on the message board too!

Just look for the number "1" in that big group of numbers you normally see in the front pages. I have found most of my 1st editions at thrift shops/second hand shops and they did not cost much.

 

[Sundrop]

I have several first editions. There are also several that I am actively searching for, but refuse to pay outrageously jacked up ebay pricing for....

 

[morgan]

king family fan & kingricefan - do you have first editions of all of King's books? I would ask John too, but I'm pretty sure I know the answer! He probably owns the first little story SK wrote when he was like six years old that he talked about in On Writing!

 

[jchanic]

My Mr Mercedes, UK Hodder & Stoughton is like this:

the right of stephen king to be identified........

4

First Hodder hardcover edition June 2014

This is a fourth printing.

John

 

[king family fan]

king family fan & kingricefan - do you have first editions of all of King's books? I would ask John too, but I'm pretty sure I know the answer! He probably owns the first little story SK wrote when he was like six years old that he talked about in On Writing!

There are still some i need. But keep plucking away at them.

 

[Lets Rock]

It's under FAQ here on the message board too!

Morgan and Neesy - thank you.
(I need to play with the multi quote feature )