Do You Collect 1st Editions?

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Lets Rock

.. still breathing...
Jul 5, 2014
323
1,210
Ok. Laptop busted, can't read pdf on tablet...
My hardcover Nightmares and Dreamscapes publisher is Hodder and Stoughton, info page has publisher's note and library catalogue info © 1993, first published 1993 no reprint or other publications listed but only number listed is ISBN which starts 0-340-
so think is but can anyone confirm? Thanks
 

bigkingfan91

Well-Known Member
Mar 1, 2014
190
921
32
WV
I have a question! When you talk about Book Club Editions, do most of those editions refer to the editions that you can still buy from The Stephen King Library? Or are some of those still pretty old books, from some kind of "Book Club" from back then? For example... When I got back into collecting King awhile back, I found a nice hardback of Christine on Half Price Books.com. It was really cheap, like 99 cents for the book, and it didn't claim to be any special edition, only claimed NOT to be a library copy. It looked old and overall nice, same cover and everything from the 1st hardback, but when I received it it was a BCE and much smaller then the normal hardbacks. Bummer for me, but since I like collecting anything I can I didn't fuss about it. I did finally order a Christine 1st edition hardback yesterday though, since it was driving me nuts only having the BCE.

It just seems odd because some of these books that are the BCE seem pretty old, not like something you would order offline as "new" today. I understand the SK Library book club thing has been going on for years though so obviously this could be from years ago, a book someone just decided to sell.

One big reason for this question, is I noticed on Ebay yesterday while looking for older editions of The Shining, a few of the hardbacks said something about "1990" in the description... I'm thinking those in particular are BCE of The Shining, printed in 1990 from the SK Book Club...? Is that where all of these BCE came from, or were some of them printed way back when, from a different "book club"? Sorry for the short story I wrote, lol, I just don't like the idea of buying hardbacks off Ebay with the old style dust jackets, that where printed years later in 1990. Especially when they claim them to be "early" editions, and talk about them being in "Mint" shape for an "early" edition. I'd much rather buy a real earlier printing with that same jacket, even if it were in worse shape, and even if it was not a true rare 1st edition, then a BCE printed in 1990.

I spent quite a bit of money on Ebay yesterday, like an idiot, buying some of these... Not realizing I could have gotten them from the SK Library for 15 bucks a pop. 2 were legit 1st editions but 3 weren't. Live and learn. :(
 

jchanic

Well-Known Member
Jul 11, 2006
3,164
6,097
79
Cleveland Ohio
Ok. Laptop busted, can't read pdf on tablet...
My hardcover Nightmares and Dreamscapes publisher is Hodder and Stoughton, info page has publisher's note and library catalogue info © 1993, first published 1993 no reprint or other publications listed but only number listed is ISBN which starts 0-340-
so think is but can anyone confirm? Thanks

If the price on the dust jacket is £16.99 it sounds like a first edition, first printing.

John
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
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! ;-D ;DD
Yes, all of mine are 1sts. I have them insured for $30,000. I won't be able to cope if anything should happen to them........
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
I have a question! When you talk about Book Club Editions, do most of those editions refer to the editions that you can still buy from The Stephen King Library? Or are some of those still pretty old books, from some kind of "Book Club" from back then? For example... When I got back into collecting King awhile back, I found a nice hardback of Christine on Half Price Books.com. It was really cheap, like 99 cents for the book, and it didn't claim to be any special edition, only claimed NOT to be a library copy. It looked old and overall nice, same cover and everything from the 1st hardback, but when I received it it was a BCE and much smaller then the normal hardbacks. Bummer for me, but since I like collecting anything I can I didn't fuss about it. I did finally order a Christine 1st edition hardback yesterday though, since it was driving me nuts only having the BCE.

It just seems odd because some of these books that are the BCE seem pretty old, not like something you would order offline as "new" today. I understand the SK Library book club thing has been going on for years though so obviously this could be from years ago, a book someone just decided to sell.

One big reason for this question, is I noticed on Ebay yesterday while looking for older editions of The Shining, a few of the hardbacks said something about "1990" in the description... I'm thinking those in particular are BCE of The Shining, printed in 1990 from the SK Book Club...? Is that where all of these BCE came from, or were some of them printed way back when, from a different "book club"? Sorry for the short story I wrote, lol, I just don't like the idea of buying hardbacks off Ebay with the old style dust jackets, that where printed years later in 1990. Especially when they claim them to be "early" editions, and talk about them being in "Mint" shape for an "early" edition. I'd much rather buy a real earlier printing with that same jacket, even if it were in worse shape, and even if it was not a true rare 1st edition, then a BCE printed in 1990.

I spent quite a bit of money on Ebay yesterday, like an idiot, buying some of these... Not realizing I could have gotten them from the SK Library for 15 bucks a pop. 2 were legit 1st editions but 3 weren't. Live and learn. :(
Always, always ask the seller questions when buying on ebay. If it's not a bookclub, there should always be a price printed on the front inside flap of the dust jacket. That's a really good indicator. Also, ask if the seller is a smoker- I've been burned (pun intended) on more than one occasion- one being when I bought a limited edition of Insomnia that didn't have the traycase, never bothered to ask the seller if they smoked, and when it arrived and I opened the box I was almost knocked over by the hideous smell of cigarette smoke! Even the dustjacket was discolored along the edges from the nicotene! It was awful! Gross!
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
I have a question! When you talk about Book Club Editions, do most of those editions refer to the editions that you can still buy from The Stephen King Library? Or are some of those still pretty old books, from some kind of "Book Club" from back then? For example... When I got back into collecting King awhile back, I found a nice hardback of Christine on Half Price Books.com. It was really cheap, like 99 cents for the book, and it didn't claim to be any special edition, only claimed NOT to be a library copy. It looked old and overall nice, same cover and everything from the 1st hardback, but when I received it it was a BCE and much smaller then the normal hardbacks. Bummer for me, but since I like collecting anything I can I didn't fuss about it. I did finally order a Christine 1st edition hardback yesterday though, since it was driving me nuts only having the BCE.

It just seems odd because some of these books that are the BCE seem pretty old, not like something you would order offline as "new" today. I understand the SK Library book club thing has been going on for years though so obviously this could be from years ago, a book someone just decided to sell.

One big reason for this question, is I noticed on Ebay yesterday while looking for older editions of The Shining, a few of the hardbacks said something about "1990" in the description... I'm thinking those in particular are BCE of The Shining, printed in 1990 from the SK Book Club...? Is that where all of these BCE came from, or were some of them printed way back when, from a different "book club"? Sorry for the short story I wrote, lol, I just don't like the idea of buying hardbacks off Ebay with the old style dust jackets, that where printed years later in 1990. Especially when they claim them to be "early" editions, and talk about them being in "Mint" shape for an "early" edition. I'd much rather buy a real earlier printing with that same jacket, even if it were in worse shape, and even if it was not a true rare 1st edition, then a BCE printed in 1990.

I spent quite a bit of money on Ebay yesterday, like an idiot, buying some of these... Not realizing I could have gotten them from the SK Library for 15 bucks a pop. 2 were legit 1st editions but 3 weren't. Live and learn. :(

'Book club edition' likely referred to Book of the Month Club. They are generally smaller sized than standard HB copies, and the paper is many times 'cheaper'; i.e. you can see that it is less fine and might even have flaws in the paper itself. The text of the book is exactly the same as in standard HB copies, though.

As far as 'old' covers on book club editions, some were printed at roughly the same time as the standard HBs, but others could be reprints. I have a 'salem's Lot that was supposed to be original (not first edition, with the Father Cody misprint, dammit ;D); however, once I got it I found that it was a reprint of the original with the old-style cover art. Live and learn, I guess.

I'm at a loss with the SK Book Club items, though--don't have any of those that I know of. I think they had different cover art than the original printings, though--they all look like a set (I think. Could definitely be wrong, though. There are many here who know MUCH more about this stuff than I do. I'm just happy to have the books at all--lol).
 

jchanic

Well-Known Member
Jul 11, 2006
3,164
6,097
79
Cleveland Ohio

Lets Rock

.. still breathing...
Jul 5, 2014
323
1,210
Thank you very much John. Sooo very happy. Will look at club but not looking at selling. Love books. Have daughter who enjoys creating own characters and stories. Jacket has a stain and something's had a nibble. Will put it somewhere safer.

Have a couple of books I couldn't guess age because info wasn't printed then but they're not SKs
 

Shasta

On his shell he holds the earth.
Yes, all of mine are 1sts. I have them insured for $30,000. I won't be able to cope if anything should happen to them........
I should have asked you this ages ago - do you have a place you recommend to get a certificate of authenticity?

I should always just automatically defer to your knowledge.