Salem's Lot 1st Edition $90,000? O.o

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ZombieDrama

Well-Known Member
Sep 21, 2013
114
376
Indianapolis
Holy crap my dream will never be realized! x.X Kind of cool how this became a rare book, when it went from almost being 'Jerusalem's Lot' to 'Salem's Lot'. Most of the value they put in the jacket, whereas I put most of the value in Stephen King's words. <3

The Ultimate Prize for Stephen King Collectors - AbeBooks

I hope one day I will have a 1st edition Salem's Lot book signed by the man himself, that would be just awesome! I saw one on Ebay not too long ago that was 1st edition signed for five thousand bucks. I was gonna ask'em if they have a layaway plan. >_>
 

!redruM

Semi-Well Known Member
Nov 15, 2010
444
1,231
I found a reprint copy at my local library signed by Stephen King! Granted, it said it was printed in the 1990's, but before the copyright pages, I saw that there was a Doubleday Memo/Note sheet, only a few inches in width and length, with his signature written across!

I asked some of the librarians later if they could do their best to 'authenticate' the autograph (luckily one of the two I was talking to was a huge fan of King!), and after a few minutes of them staring and mumbling to each other, they said it looked real! :)

They told me that all I had to do if I wanted to keep it was buy a replacement hardcover copy, and that'd be that! So now I have a copy of 'S.L., with the 'LIBRARY' stamp marks all crossed out and 'DISCARDED' stamped all over it, complete with checkout slip pocket and protective dust jacket wrap! Best $30 I ever spent! xD

Just in case no one believes me, I'll work on posting some pictures in a separate thread soon! :)
 

Cowboy

Lesser-Known Member
Feb 17, 2007
11,053
5,963
Calla Bryn Sturgis
I found a reprint copy at my local library signed by Stephen King! Granted, it said it was printed in the 1990's, but before the copyright pages, I saw that there was a Doubleday Memo/Note sheet, only a few inches in width and length, with his signature written across!

I asked some of the librarians later if they could do their best to 'authenticate' the autograph (luckily one of the two I was talking to was a huge fan of King!), and after a few minutes of them staring and mumbling to each other, they said it looked real! :)

They told me that all I had to do if I wanted to keep it was buy a replacement hardcover copy, and that'd be that! So now I have a copy of 'S.L., with the 'LIBRARY' stamp marks all crossed out and 'DISCARDED' stamped all over it, complete with checkout slip pocket and protective dust jacket wrap! Best $30 I ever spent! xD

Just in case no one believes me, I'll work on posting some pictures in a separate thread soon! :)
Have I shared with my friends here how I have this wonderful hobby of going to libraries and signing authors names to their books?
Not really, but that isn't a bad idea.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
Our local library used to have an old original hardback of The Gunslinger, not great condition but still it was cool. I haven't seen it around in years, though so I assume it was either taken off the shelves or stolen.
I found a Grant second printing at a thrift store in Everett, WA that was once in the Seattle Public Library system and was discarded.
 

RichardX

Well-Known Member
Sep 26, 2006
1,737
4,434
There seem to be a few ebay sellers and book dealers who go fishing for a rube. They list a book at some outrageous price and hope someone bites. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. At the very least, it makes the copies listed for $3K look like a bargain. I wouldn't do business with anyone who pulls this stunt.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
There seem to be a few ebay sellers and book dealers who go fishing for a rube. They list a book at some outrageous price and hope someone bites. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. At the very least, it makes the copies listed for $3K look like a bargain. I wouldn't do business with anyone who pulls this stunt.
I agree. Sometimes I think the 'owners' of the books just list them at outrageous prices, knowing full well that noone will buy them, so that they can show the world that they have a rare King book.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
...a couple of days ago, my wife showed me a myriad of sellers on Ebay that are shilling the "Princess Di" Beanie Bears for 50,000 bucks!!!!!!!....coz they've got a misprinted hang tag....wonder what I'd get for my worn Fruit of the Loom tag?????....
In the infamous words of Carl Sagan- 'Billions and billions...'! :lol:
 

Robert Gray

Well-Known Member
Holy crap my dream will never be realized! x.X Kind of cool how this became a rare book, when it went from almost being 'Jerusalem's Lot' to 'Salem's Lot'. Most of the value they put in the jacket, whereas I put most of the value in Stephen King's words. <3

The Ultimate Prize for Stephen King Collectors - AbeBooks

I hope one day I will have a 1st edition Salem's Lot book signed by the man himself, that would be just awesome! I saw one on Ebay not too long ago that was 1st edition signed for five thousand bucks. I was gonna ask'em if they have a layaway plan. >_>


If you want a 1st Edition of Salem's Lot, they aren't that hard to find. I have several picked up from Half Price Books. They aren't signed of course, but I hold on to hope to have Sai King enter his autograph in one someday. My advice is to just pick up a 1st Edition somewhere and keep it handy. Ka is a wheel and you might one day find yourself in the presence of the tale-slinger himself.
 

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
44,082
175,641
New Zealand
If you want a 1st Edition of Salem's Lot, they aren't that hard to find. I have several picked up from Half Price Books. They aren't signed of course, but I hold on to hope to have Sai King enter his autograph in one someday. My advice is to just pick up a 1st Edition somewhere and keep it handy. Ka is a wheel and you might one day find yourself in the presence of the tale-slinger himself.
Speaking of... have you guys moved to Maine yet?