ASIMOV, ISAAC. FORWARD THE FOUNDATION.
Michael Anft in England and Sally Ann Levin in the United States were able, in 1993, to track down the dates that all the editions of FORWARD THE FOUNDATION by Isaac Asimov were shipped by their publishers and/or when they actually went on sale. The results were as follows:
The BCA edition (the British Book Club) went on sale in the London Book Club
store on FEBRUARY 15, 1993.
The Bantam-Doubleday, London edition (the Commonwealth export edition
Being the same as the British domestic trade edition) landed in Australia
Bon MARCH 24, 1993 and went on sale about a week later. The British domestic
Copies went on sale about APRIL 22, 1993.
The Doubleday, New York edition was first shipped on MARCH 5, 1993 and went
On sale shortly thereafter.
Thus, the BCA edition is the true first world edition.
The BCA edition is every bit as well made as any of the trade editions and bears no "book
club" markings. This true first edition "Foundation" novel is somewhat difficult to find.
Harlan Ellison has solved the mystery surrounding the first American edition of FORWARD
THE FOUNDATION by Isaac Asimov. Shortly after the book was published, it was brought to
Ellison's attention that no copies of the book sold in California appeared to be of the
first printing. Doubleday usually marks the first printing of their books "First Edition"
and they have also been using a number code with the numbers 1 through 10, "1" indicating
the book was a first printing. The copies turning up in California did not say "First
Edition" on the copyright page and the number code started with "2." Ellison made a few
telephone calls and found out what had happened. It seems Doubleday sold the rights to the
words "First Edition" for this book to The Easton Press for their signed first edition
series. So, when Doubleday set the type for their edition, they dropped the words "First
Edition" from their copyright page and started the number code with "2." Then it was
discovered that Isaac Asimov was too ill to sign The Easton Press contract, let alone
autograph the sheets for the book. The Easton Press had to drop the title. Doubleday did
not reset its copyright page, so all of the first (American) printings look like a second
printing.
BAKER, KEVIN. DREAM LAND.
Harper Collins:
1) First print run out-of-print before 4-14-99 — 46,000 copies printed.
2) Second print run printed before 4-14-99 — 3,500 printed.
BARKER, CLIVE. IN THE FLESH.
New York: Simon & Schuster. 1986.
First American trade edition of THE BOOKS OF BLOOD VOL. 5.
BEAR, GREG. EON.
New York: Bluejay Press. 1985. First edition, trade and authorial limited states. No more than 50 hardcover firsts were made into a limited edition by Greg Bear and the Bookdealer, David McClintock. Greg Bear did a signed inscription and number on the front free endpaper, as well as a fairly large original ink illustration by Greg Bear.
BENFORD, GREGORY. CHILLER.
New York: Bantam Books. 1993 Hardcover.
Written pseudonymously as by Blake Sterling.
BONANNO, MARGARET WANDER. STRANGERS FROM THE SKY: A STAR TREK GIANT NOVEL.
Science Fiction Book Club published the first hardcover edition, listed as a
featured alternate in THINGS TO COME, August 1987.
BRADBURY, RAY. AFTER MANY A SUMMER.
We have the original typescript for this short story.
BRIN, DAVID. THE CRYSTAL SPHERES.
Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Short story in 1985; forms the basis for
the lead story in THE RIVER OF TIME (45.5% of the story’s contents being
original in THE RIVER OF TIME. (See “Author’s Notes” in THE RIVER OF TIME.)
BRIN, DAVID. SUNDIVER.
Author’s first book, prequel to STARTIDE RISING.
BRUNDAGE, MARGARET. THE DEVIL IN IRON.
Original painting in pastels (the medium she always used, and one of the
most delicate) depicting Conan in "THE DEVIL IN IRON" by Robert E. Howard, WEIRD TALES,
August 1934. This cover depicts "Conan" with his sword in hand fighting a giant snake
which is wrapped around him, while a kneeling seminude woman (a Brundage trademark) looks
on. Until fairly recently, this painting was thought to be lost forever. Only fourteen
Brundage paintings survive in any condition. Her original cover paintings are among the
most rare and most sought after of all pulp-era cover art.
[See additional Edgar Rice Burroughs bibliographical notes at the end of this page.]
BURROUGHS, EDGAR RICE. THE MAD KING.
Steven K. Hurley has made a very important advancement in the field of Edgar Rice
Burroughs bibliography. He has discovered that there are TWO states of the McClurg 1926
first edition of THE MAD KING by Burroughs. Back in 1926, when Maurice B. Gardner noted
two typographical errors in the first printing of THE MAD KING, he notified A. C. McClurg
& Co., the book's publisher. According to "Heins," McClurg had the errors corrected in
time for the Grosset & Dunlap reprint editions. Heins' Burroughs bibliography lists only
one McClurg printing with no points of states (as do all the other Burroughs bibliographies).
So, until recently, anyone owning a copy of the McClurg edition of THE MAD KING thought
that they owned a copy of the "true" first edition. The discovery that Mr. Hurley has made
is that McClurg either stopped the presses and corrected the errors in the first printing
or printed a second run of the book with the errors corrected. The "true" first state of
THE MAD KING must have the following points: On page 12, the sixth paragraph ends with
"Face of the man;" page 92, line 16 has the same text as line 22. The second state or
printing of the McClurg version corrects the above errors, as do the Grosset & Dunlap
editions, as we have previously noted. Thanks to Mr. Hurley, it's a whole new ball game!
BURROUGHS, EDGAR RICE. TARZAN AND THE TARZAN TWINS WITH JAD-BAL-JA, THE LION.
[Racine: Whitman Publishing Company. 1936.The Big Big Book 4056.] Mr. Robert R.
Barrett has reported, "I've recently been able to correct an erroneous listing both in
Henry Hardy Heins' GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS, and in L. W.
Currey's SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY AUTHORS. On page 84 of Heins' listing for TARZAN AND
THE TARZAN TWINS WITH JAD-BAL-JA, THE LION, Heins lists a blank spine variant, designating
it as "1a." Heins further goes on to note that "the blank spine variant (our copy of which
came directly from the Burroughs stock in Tarzana) may have been the first trial run. Its
red lettering and picture are faintly visible against the black background, but only under
a flashlight or other direct beam from an incandescent lamp." Mr. Barrett goes on to say,
"I purchased this copy from Heins, who described it: 'This is the copy of edition '1a'
which is described on page 84 of the Bibliography. Very fine condition, with the edges
smoked from the ERB Inc. storeroom fire of 1958; contains ERB Inc.'s fire-damage sticker
which is signed by Hulbert Burroughs.' Upon receiving the book, I immediately examined the
spine and determined that it was black only because of the smoke damage. In order to verify
my theory, I began to rub the spine with a soft cloth, and some of the black began to come
off. I then dampened the cloth and continued to gently rub the spine until the title,
circular picture of Tarzan, and the number '4056' was easily visible without strong light,
either sunlight, flashlight, or incandescent light. As a result I have had to conclude that
there are only two variants: '1' and '1b.' "
BUTLER, OCTAVIA, AND JAMES CARROLL, MICHAEL CHABON, DENISE CHAVEZ, ALAN
CHEUSE, MAXINE CLAIR, WILLIAM KENNEDY, BARBARA KINGSOLVER, KATE LEHRER,
SUSAN MINOT, WALTER MOSLEY, TOBY OLSON, E. ANNIE PROULX, AND JANE SMILEY.
JOURNEYS.
Rockville: Quill & Brush. 1996. First Edition:
- trade state: 200 copies
- hardcover limited state: 150 copies
- leather lettered state: 26 copies
- leather presentation state: 18 copies
CHERRYH, C. J. CHANUR’S LEGACY.
True first edition is “Advance Reading Copy.” “First Printing, August 1992
/ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9.” DAW Books, New York [1992].
CHERRYH, C. J. HUNTER OF WORLDS.
Science Fiction Book Club edition (listed in January 1988 THINGS TO COME) is
the true first edition, preceding the paperback edition.
CONLEY, MARTHA. GROWING LIGHT.
Debut mystery novel isn’t quite as much of a debut as it appears, according
to Gordon Van Gelder, Associate Editor at St. Martin’s Press. He said that
“Martha Conley” is a pseudonym for Marta Randall who started writing
mysteries after going nearly a decade without writing science fiction.
CORREY, LEE. PSEUDONYM FOR G. HARRY STINE.
DILLON, LIONEL (LEO). TWO SOUGHT ADVENTURE.
We have in stock the original dust jacket cover art for the Gnome Press first edition of TWO SOUGHT ADVENTURE by Fritz Leiber, Jr. Painted on art board and overlays of acetate sheets. [c. 1957]. An early and historically important Leo Dillon cover painting by the famous award-winning artist, and a one-of-a-kind Leiber and Gnome Press item. It has been handsomely framed by one of Los Angeles' finest fine-art picture framers.
EDMONDSON, G. C. AND C. M. KOTLAN. THE CUNNINGHAM EQUATIONS.
Del Rey. Both first and second printings are marked “First Edition.” The
True first edition has “Edmondson” misspelled “Edmundson” many times (about
140).
ELLISON, HARLAN. ANGRY CANDY.
Harlan Ellison has done some bibliographic detective work worthy of John Carter (the bibliographer, not the Prince of Helium). He has confirmed that The Easton Press edition of his book, ANGRY CANDY, is the true first edition, preceding the Houghton Mifflin edition. "The publication date for the Easton Press edition was September 7, 1988, the Houghton Mifflin edition, October 29, 1988. The Easton Press edition was only 3,500 copies, the Houghton Mifflin edition, 12,500 copies."
ELLISON, HARLAN. DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH.
Harlan Ellison has told us that there were two printings of his book, DREAMS WITH
SHARP TEETH. The first printing has the code "RD 7 W" in the lower gutter margin of page
[998]; the second printing has the code "RD 2 X" in the same place.
EMERSON, RUTH. PSEUDONYM FOR LAWRENCE BLOCH.
ETCHISON, DENNIS. FIRST THREE BOOKS.
His first published book was STUD ROW by H. L. Mensch (pseudonym of Dennis Etchison and his college friend, Eric Cohen). [Oasis Publications], [Canoga Park], [1969]. Paperback. His second published book was LOVES AND INTRIGUES OF DAMON-DJ by Ben Dover (pseudonym of Dennis Etchison). [Oasis Publishers], [Canoga Park], [1969]. This book was based upon an idea given to the author by Charles Beaumont. Though an "adult" novel, it is his first book in the field of fantastic literature and is now very rare. Dennis Etchison's third published book was THE FOG, a novelization of the film. Bantam Books, New York. [1980].
FARMER, PHILIP JOSÉ. PLUS FORT QUE LE FEU (English title: MORE THAN FIRE).
Paris: Presses Pocket. 1993. True world first edition. Paperback. The author's most recent "WORLD OF TIERS" novel. The first hardcover edition and first English-language edition is by Tor, New York. [1993].
FENN, LIONEL. PSEUDONYM FOR CHARLES L. GRANT.
GUTTENBERG, ELYSE. ORDER OF HER PUBLISHED BOOKS.
- SUNDER ECLIPSE AND SEED, first fantasy novel, Roc, 1990 — intended to be
the first of a trilogy, honorary mention for the Crawford Award for best
first fantasy novel.
- THE HAVENS. Sequal to SUNDER. Accepted by Roc but never published.
- THE THIRD IN THE TRILOGY had not been written as or Ms. Guttenberg’s
letter of April 23, 1999.
- SUMMER LIGHT. Harper Prism. First of two Alaskan prehistories.
- DAUGHTER OF THE SHAMAN. Harper Prism. Sequel to SUMMER LIGHT.
HEINLEIN, ROBERT A. THE CAT WHO WALKS THROUGH WALLS: A COMEDY OF MANNERS.
G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York. 1985.
This book had two first editions: The first edition, first issue
contained an erratum slip for the missing line 3 on page 300. The
erratum slip reads: "On page 300, line 3 should read as follows:
"ignate universes by serial numbers. . . but a more meaningful way, for". The
actual line 3 in the first issue reads: "enterprise, headed by a
financier, one D. D. Harriman, and the first man". In the first edition,
second issue, line 3 on page 300 is corrected, and the original line 3 (in the first
edition, first issue) now becomes line 4.
HEINLEIN, ROBERT A. FARMER IN THE SKY.
Mr. Jay Lester has discovered a variant dust jacket state for FARMER IN THE SKY. This dust jacket was found on a first edition of the book. It is the same as the previously known first edition dust jacket except for a line above the title of the book on the front cover that reads: "A SCIENCE FICTION STORY." Mr. Lester has checked the Santa Cruz, California collection of Heinlein's own copies; his first edition does not have the extra line of copy on the front cover of the dust jacket.
HEINLEIN, ROBERT A. THE NAMES OF THE BEAST IN THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST.
This is an otherwise unrecorded "mini-broadside" produced by Heinlein when, much to his surprise, no one found all the anagrams he had hidden in his book, THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST. He sent only a very small number of copies to his friends.
KELLOGG, M. BRADLEY with WILLIAM ROSSOW. LEAR’S DAUGHTERS.
Science Fiction Book Club. First combined edition, first hardcover edition
of THE WAVE AND THE FLAME and REIGN OF FIRE, in April 1987. Preceded by the
American separate paperback editions in 1986. Followed by the Victor
Gollancz first trade hardcover editions and first separate hardcover
editions, THE WAVE AND THE FLAME in 1987, and REIGN OF FIRE in 1988.
[See additional Stephen King bibliographical notes at the end of this page.]
KING, STEPHEN. CARRIE.
James Strand has made a major bibliographic discovery concerning the nature of the true first edition of Stephen King's first book, CARRIE. It has long been known that the true first edition of CARRIE was the "Special Edition" in wrappers published by Doubleday as an advance readers copy to promote the sale of the first book by a then-unknown author by the name of Stephen King. Mr. Strand has discovered that there are two separate printings of this advance "Special Edition." One is marked with the code "O50" in the gutter margin of page 199, with the book itself measuring 5 ¼ x 8 ¼ inches. The other printing has the code "P6" in the gutter margin of page 199, with the book measuring 5 ½ x 8 ¼ inches. The text is positioned a little differently on the back cover, and the covers are of a somewhat different paper stock but otherwise the two printings look very much alike. If Doubleday had not broken their own rule at that time concerning the use of code numbers, the "O50" copies are the true first edition, first printing, followed by the later "P6" printing. "P6" is the code used in the first trade hardcover edition published by Doubleday.
KING, STEPHEN. CHRISTINE.
West Kingston: Donald M. Grant. 1983. Limited edition. Chris Cavalier has noted that about twenty copies are marked "Publisher's Copy" on the limitation page where the number of the copy would normally go.
KING, STEPHEN. CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF.
Westland: Land of Enchantment. 1983. Limited edition. Chris Cavalier has noted that eight copies of the limited edition were marked "This is book numbered (handwritten number 1 through 8) #1 of 8 Artist's Copy." Signed by Stephen King on the limitation page in the place designated for his signature, but Berni Wrightson (the illustrator) did not sign on the limitation page's designated place (on the copy seen) but signed on the title page instead.
KING, STEPHEN. DANSE MACABRE.
New York: Everest House. 1981. First edition. We noted that the so-called "Publisher's State" was not issued in slipcase. Chris Cavalier has found an Everest House inter-office memorandum proving that this state was issued in a slipcase.
KING, STEPHEN. THE DARK TOWER II: THE DRAWING OF THE THREE.
West Kingston: Donald M. Grant. 1987. Limited edition. We have found a state
not listed in Beahm. This copy is designated “Author’s Copy” on the
limitation page and is signed, like all the limited states, by Stephen King
and the book’s illustrator, Phil Hale. The “Author’s” copies were set aside
for the use of the author. Chris Cavalier notes that five copies are marked
“Artist’s Copy (on a cancel on the limitation page, variously numbered 1
through 5) No. 1.” Signed by King and by the book’s illustrator, Phil Hale,
on limitation page.
KING, STEPHEN. THE DARK TOWER III: THE WASTE LANDS.
Mr. Tyson Blue and Mr. Larry Coven have supplied us with the following
information on what we believe to be the nature of the true first edition,
first issue of the Stephen King novel, THE DARK TOWER III: THE WASTE LANDS.
It seems that Donald M. Grant, the book’s publisher, has issued an “ADVANCE
REVIEW COPY;” this, the true first edition, first issue, is bound in
off-white wrappers with black lettering, measures 5 7/8 x 9 inches and is 1
5/8 inches thick. It was issued with a form letter to reviewers and with an
accompanying envelope containing thirteen color plates for the book (the
“Advance Review Copy” does not contain illustrations and states on its front
cover, “MISSING 12 COLOR ILLUSTRATIONS”) that appear in the later hardcover
issues.
KING, STEPHEN. THE DEAD ZONE.
We discovered two states of the first edition of THE DEAD ZONE by Stephen
King. Both state “First published in 1979 by The Viking Press” on the
copyright page. Both states show differences in binding and dust jacket. We
have checked our bibliographic notes and discovered an old rumor that
Stephen King had been unhappy with copies of the first edition of THE DEAD
ZONE that he had seen at an autograph party in advance of publication date
and had asked the publisher to reprint the first printing. We wrote King and
asked him about this rumor and about the points for the true first issue. We
received a reply dated August 4, 1988, “In response to your question about
the true first issue of the first edition of THE DEAD ZONE, some of the
first editions were defective. They were pulled from distribution.”
KING, STEPHEN. DESPERATION.
New York: Viking. 1996. The earliest bound pre-publication state is text reproduced by the publisher from King's original typescript. Two volumes. Only about 12 copies were done. Self-wrappers with comb binding.
KING, STEPHEN. DOLORES CLAIBORNE.
Michael Anft has determined that the true world first edition of DOLORES CLAIBORNE is the true world first edition by only one day. It was issued just one day before the early release of the British trade edition in Australia, nine days before the British "Special Limited Christmas Edition," ten days before the (American) Stephen King Bookclub edition, and very clearly before the American trade hardcover edition.
KING, STEPHEN. THE EYES OF THE DRAGON.
Stephen King's own Philtrum Press Bangor, 1984, first edition. Probably the most rare
state is the "Artist's State" limited to only ten copies. It is numbered in red ink on the
limitation page and is signed by King (as are all of the 250 "red numbered" copies); but
this, the Artist's State, is also signed on the limitation page by the book's illustrator,
Kenneth R. Linkhauser, and dated by him. There are also two other uncommon states not
called out for on the limitation page: 1) a red lettered state, limited to no more than
26 copies for familial presentation; a black lettered state, limited to no more than 26
copies for presentation to close friends.
KING, STEPHEN. FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT.
Andy Langwiser has reported that he found two binding states for the first American
edition of FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT by Stephen King. Mr. Langwiser tentatively determined that
the first copies issued have gold embossed "S.K." initials on the book's front board
(cover).
KING, STEPHEN. GERALD'S GAME.
Michael Anft in a three-continent tour-de-force of bibliographical research has determined that the true world first edition of Stephen King's GERALD'S GAME is the British Book Club edition. The British Book Club edition of GERALD'S GAME went on sale in the London Book Club store some weeks before the American "special limited A.B.A. edition" distributed to booksellers attending the 1992 American Booksellers Association convention, also preceding the British trade hardcover edition as well as all other editions.
KING, STEPHEN. THE GREEN MILE, PART ONE.
We discovered that the true first edition of part one of THE GREEN MILE is the French
hardcover limited edition. The limited hardcover edition was printed in February of 1996,
some 15 days before the French trade edition in wrappers. The description of the book is
as follows: KING, STEPHEN (Translated by Philippe Rouard). LA LIGNE VERTE 1ER EPISODE:
DEUX PETITES FILLES MORTES. Librio, [Paris]. [1996]. Pictorial boards, the cover of which
bears the note "Serie limitée." Front free endpaper features a reproduction of a holograph
note from King, reading, "For my French readers-with love and good wishes-bonne chance en
1996! [reproduced signature] Stephen King." The French limited edition is not only the
true first edition, but is also the first hardcover edition. The publisher says that 2,000
copies were done, but it is not clear if this is the press run for the trade or limited
editions. Other sources indicate that the limited hardcover edition may have been as small
as 300 copies. Since the limited edition was done only for booksellers and journalists,
the 300-copy figure may be closer to the mark. Our thanks to the Mlle Stéphane Leroy.
According to Mr. Tyson Blue, the French trade paperback, LA LIGNE VERT, LE EPISODE: DEUX
PETITE FILES MORT, was published on March 14, while the other editions of PART ONE OF THE
GREEN MILE were published on March 27, 1996.
KING, STEPHEN. THE GREEN MILE, PART TWO: MISTER JINGLES.
Paris: Librio. 1996. True world first edition. According to Mr. Tyson Blue, the French edition went on sale five days ahead of the American edition.
KING, STEPHEN. THE GREEN MILE, PART THREE: LES MAINS DE CAFFEY.
Paris: Librio. 1996. The French publication date was May 24, and Mr. Tyson Blue said that he has an American review copy, moving the American publication date forward from May 29 to May 24.
KING, STEPHEN. MY PRETTY PONY.
New York: Whitney Museum of American Art. 1988. First edition.
Joe Stefko, the publisher of Charnel House (whose press won the Collectors Award for 1991
for the Most Collectable Book of the Year for the lettered state of THE NEW NEIGHBOR by
Ray Garton), has discovered that there are two states of the optional box for the Whitney
Museum of American Art's first edition of MY PRETTY PONY by Stephen King. The first state
of the box has a red leather label with silver lettering on its spine. The second state
omits the spine label.
KING, STEPHEN. NEEDFUL THINGS.
For the advance appearance, see TWICE THE POWER.
KING, STEPHEN. NIGHTMARES AND DREAMSCAPES.
London: Hodder & Stoughton. 1993. Andy Richards in England has discovered the points on the true first British trade edition, as follows: Price on dust jacket of £15.99, plate (tipped-in illustration of "The House on Maple Street) facing page 448. (These copies were not put on general sale in England.) The copies that were released in England (second state) have the following points: Price on dust jacket £16.99, with "The House on Maple Street" plate facing page 433.
KING, STEPHEN. PET SEMETARY.
Andy Langwiser has discovered two dust jacket states on the first hardcover edition of PET SEMETARY. The first edition, first issue dust jacket has, on the bottom half of the dust jacket's back cover, the date "1982" in the text dealing with Tabitha King's books: "Stephen King lives in Bangor Maine, with his wife Tabitha (author of the well-received fantasy novel, SMALL WORLD and, in 1982, of CARETAKERS) and their three children." The second issue dust jacket corrects the date to "1983."
KING, STEPHEN. SKELETON CREW.
We have found five different states of SKELETON CREW in the "Zippered" limited leather-bound state:
- Lettered copies designated "A" — "ZZ"
- Copies designated: "S/P / Presentation / copy"
- Copies designated "PC / S/P / JC"
- Copies designated "Publisher / copy / one of seven / [signed] Jeff Conner / Scream Press"
- Found by Paul Dobish, Jr., copies designated "Publisher copy / S/P from six copies.
KING, STEPHEN. THE STAND: THE COMPLETE & UNCUT EDITION.
The true world first edition, first binding state has only been seen by us in one copy.
This copy, according to a letter of provenance from an executive at Doubleday, is
"one-of-a-kind." He went on to state, "We had to go back with all those books [400,000
copies of the first trade printing] and have the endpapers more firmly secured . . .
Yours is the only book that was kept out of that first run—a true collectors' edition."
This quite possibly unique copy of the first edition, first binding state, is of the
trade edition which preceded the limited edition both in its binding and in its date of
release. (We use the term "edition" rather than "state" because the trade copies and
limited copies were printed from different type with different collations.) This book was
the first copy sent out by the publisher; it was acquired in advance from the printer by
an executive at Doubleday and sent to a Stephen King bio-bibliographer on 2/22/90. This
copy's release date (and only this copy) preceded the early release of the British copies.
The British edition preceded the American edition (our unique copy aside). Andy Richards stated that Michael Moorcock (the British science fiction author) bought a copy in Spain weeks before the release of the American edition (yes, even before the accidental early release of some of the American copies to book stores), and that copy was most probably a copy of the British domestic edition. Mr. Richards went on to state that the original dust jacket for the British uncut STAND had a higher price, but Doubleday (the American publisher) made them lower the price and reprint the dust jackets with the new lower price.
Larry Coven reported that only two copies of the limited edition of the uncut STAND were issued with the plate (the engraved title plaque for the lid of the limited edition's wooden box) in the first state affixed to the lid. One of them has been seen on the lid of a lettered copy. The first state of the plate was brass with black lettering, the second state was black with engraved brass lettering. The second state plaque is also 1/8 inch larger than the first state.
KING, STEPHEN. THE STAR INVADERS.
Self-published.
KING, STEPHEN. THE TOMMYKNOCKERS.
Stephen King has reported that the first edition, first issue of THE TOMMYKNOCKERS has, on the copyright page under the row of numbers "12345678910," the words "Permissions to Come." This line was dropped part-way through the first press run. Furthermore, the book was issued in two dust jacket states:
- with the author's name in red on the front cover (copy seen with the first issue point in this dust jacket state);
- with the author's name in gold on the front cover.
Frank Halpern of the Rare Book Room of the Free Library of Philadelphia reported, "I have recently come across what may be an unrecorded variant of the 'Permissions to Come' state of Stephen King's TOMMYKNOCKERS." He went on to state that he had seen copies with a cancelled leaf numbered as pages 257-258, clearly attached to a stub at the gutter margin. He had compared the cancelled state to a copy of the "Permissions to Come" state without the cancel and could fine "absolutely" no difference (other than the cancel) between them. He concluded that, " . . . it is possible that an error was discovered early in the print run and that the already completed copies were corrected by the [removal of the leaf and] the insertion of a cancel."
KING, STEPHEN. TWICE THE POWER.
Kent: Hodder & Stoughton. 1991. "Presentation proof." This volume contains Stephen
King's novel, NEEDFUL THINGS, as well as the second story from King's FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT
— "Secret Window, Secret Garden." (Another state of this "presentation proof" is reported to contain yet another story from FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT.) This volume was produced in order to promote the British first edition of NEEDFUL THINGS and the British first paperback edition of FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT. The "presentation proofs" are the only form the title twice the power takes. Wrappers.
KING, STEPHEN AND PETER STRAUB. THE TALISMAN.
West Kingston: Donald M. Grant. 1984. Phillip Mays, Chris Cavalier, and Terence A.
McVicker helped us to verify that Stephen King published an authorial manuscript facsimile
edition of this book. Neither King nor Straub will say how many copies were done (although
it was a small number). King had them made for Christmas gifts just as he had done with
THE PLANT. The description of this book is as follows:
KING, STEPHEN and PETER STRAUB. [The Talisman]. [Stephen King], [Bangor]. [c.1983]. Two quarto volumes. Bound in black buckram. Gilt lettering on spine in five lines: "The / Talisman / [double rule] Stephen King / [short centered rule] Peter Straub / Vol 1." (Volume 2 is the same as above but states "Vol 2.") Volume 1: 1-653, volume 2: 654-979. The text is a facsimile of the original typescript. Volume 1 is signed by both authors.
Chris Cavalier notes that an unknown number of copies of the "Deluxe Edition" are designated "Publisher's Copy." Signed by Stephen King and Peter Straub.
BACHMAN, RICHARD (Pseudonym of STEPHEN KING). THE REGULATORS.
New York: Dutton. 1996. The earliest bound pre-publication state has the text
reproduced from King's original typescript. Only about 12 copies were done. Wrappers with
comb binding.
KINNELL. “FOUNDER’S” COPIES.
For all the books published by Kinnell Publications Limited, London, a
unique copy was produced for the founder of the publishing house and were
specially bound for him in three-quarter Morocco (goat skin), with gold
stamping, raised bands and with tops and fore-edges gilt. These unique
copies were bound from the very first sheets sent from the printer to the
publisher. The founder’s own copies are also the only copies to contain a
complete colophon.
KOONTZ, DEAN R. MIDNIGHT.
First edition, first state:
- “An / Advance Reading / Copy. / Not for Resale.”
- First page [1] page headed: “These are uncorrected advance proofs bound
for your reviewing convenience.”
- 13/16ths inches across top edge.
- Glossy covers.
First edition, second state:
- Notice of “uncorrected advance proofs” eliminated.
- Much thicker across the top edge.
- Covers are not glossy.
KORSHACK, ERLE, EDITOR. LET’S RIDE A ROCKET.
Stillborn Shasta book, done only in preliminary galleys.
[See additional John Le Carré bibliographical notes at the end of this page.]
LETHEM, JONATHAN. GUN, WITH OCCASIONAL MUSIC.
Harcourt Brace & Company, New York. 1994.
First Edition states on copyright page: "First Edition" — and on the next line "ABCDE."
Second Edition states on copyright page: "First Edition" — and on the next line "BCDE."
MCCAMMON, ROBERT. STINGER.
Contrary to popular belief, the first hardcover edition of STINGER by Robert
McCammon is not the British edition, but the American Book Club edition.
MCDONALD, IAN. CHAGA.
London: Gollancz. 1995. True world first edition. Retitled for the
American edition, EVOLUTION’S ROAD.
POWERS, TIM. THE STRESS OF HER REGARD.
Lynbrook, New York: Charnel House. 1989. First edition:
- unbound proofs — about 17 printed.
- lettered state had 26 copies printed: a) Copies sold were each bound in a
different color of leather. b) Copies given to the author, proof reader, and
typesetter were all bound in black leather. c) One copy sent to Barry R.
Levin Science Fiction & Fantasy Literature was bound in a dark blue, so dark
it appears black until looked at carefully under a good light.
PULPHOUSE. “STAFF RED” STATES OF THEIR BOOKS.
Until the new version of Jack L. Chalker & Mark Owings’ bibliography of THE
SCIENCE-FANTASY PUBLISHERS, new collectors knew that Publphouse published a
“Staff Red” state of their books. These “Staff Red” copies were produced in
an average of only ten copies, strictly for the staff of the press, making
these books the rarest state of most of their books and the rarest books by
most of their authors.
RANDALL, MARTA. See her pseudonym, MARTHA CONLEY.
RICE, ANNE. MEMNOCH THE DEVIL.
New York: Knopf. 1995. Ken Lopez noted in his 7/96 catalogue, two states
of the uncorrected proof with varying text and endings. The earlier state
differs in pagination from the later state, does not give the day of
publication (given in the later state), is dated “1996” on the title page,
and gives a projected list price as $27.50, rather than $25.00. Casual
inspection of the text indicates substantive textual changes, particularly
at the ending of the story, including the last line of the book, which is
absent in this earlier version.
SCIENCE FICTION BOOK CLUB. GUTTER CODES DEFINED, 1959-1980.
YEAR PREFIX SUFFIX
1959 A
1960 B
1961 C
1962 D
1963 E
1964 F
1965 G
1966 H
1967 I
1968 J
1969 K
1970 A L
1971 B M
1972 C N
1973 D O
1974 E P
1975 F Q
1976 G R
1977 H S
1978 I T
1979 J U
1980 K V
STODDARD, JAMES. THE HIGH HOUSE.
Nashville: SoulWave Publishers. 1998. First
hardcover edition, lettered and signed leather-bound state. Limited to only
26 total signed and lettered copies. Tom McGee, the owner/publisher of Soul
Wave, has notified us of two states to the leather lettered signed copies:
The first state, of 13 lettered and signed copies, does not have gilt edges.
THE SECOND STATE OF THE SIGNED AND LETTERED STATE, also consists of 13
lettered and signed copies, all of which do have gilt edges.
STURGEON,THEODORE. PRUZY’S POT.
Hypatia Press, states:
- trade state, hardcover, $17.95, 333 copies done.
- limited state, hardcover in leather slipcase with cassette of Sturgeon
reading the story, PRUZY’S POT, 133 copies done.
TUBB, E. C. The Return: The Last Dumarest.
Paris: Vaugirard. 1992 True world first edition of this book.
Brooklyn: Gryphon Books. 1997 First English Language edition, first American edition, first revised edition.
All states of this edition are trade paperbacks. This edition was published in two states, the trade unsigned edition,
and the signed limited edition. The signed limited edition was limited to only 100 numbered copies signed on the
bound-in limitation page by the author, E. C. Tubb, by the cover artist, Ron Turner, as well as by Philip Harbottle,
Tubb's literary agent through the entire Dumarest series. This English language edition, numbered state, (of only 100
copies total) also has two states: 1 state has the cover illustration by Ron Turner printed in black-and-white, with a
color dust jacket with the same Ron Turner illustration in color on the dust jacket. 1 state has the cover illustration by
Ron Turner printed in color on the cover. This state was not issued with a dust jacket.
Mr. Robert R. Barrett reports, "I was recently doing a bit of research in the Metropolitan
Books' files from Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., and ran across the following in an exchange of
letters between Burroughs and Max Elser, Jr., of Metropolitan. It seems that the word
'slavery' was misspelled as 'salvery' on the front flaps of the dust jackets of the first
copies of Tarzan and the Lost Empire. Burroughs called this error to the attention of
Elser, and it was corrected in subsequent copies of the books' dust jackets. So . . . the
first state dust jacket for this title should have the word 'salvery' used in the blurb on
the front flap, and the second state would reflect the corrected spelling." Thank you, Mr.
Barrett; it is good to know that Burroughs's bibliographic research is alive and well.
Robert Jackson wants a unique King item put on the bibliographical record, "Here is the
information on the 'motorcycle edition' or Conner's [the publisher's] 'personal check copy'
of the Scream/Press Skeleton Crew:
KING, STEPHEN. Skeleton Crew. Scream/Press, [Santa
Cruz]. 1985. Small folio. Bound in full black Morocco (goat skin) with silver stamping on
the spine and front cover. With a tipped-in leaf in the back of the book with a holograph
inscription by Jeff Connor which reads, 'This is Jeff Connor's personal check copy. One
signature was reprinted and the poster reprinted as well. This is a one of one edition,
hand bound in goat skin in Santa Cruz for promotional use. Jeff Connor publisher.' With an
inscription by King which reads, 'For ______ owner of the world's only known "motorcycle
edition" of Skeleton Crew. Stephen King 3/22/86.' "
Mr. Jackson goes on to say, "I don't know which of the signatures was later reprinted or
why. I think the laid-in poster had to be reprinted because this one has the artist's name
as 'I. K. Potter' [should read 'J.K. Potter']. I don't think it originally had a slipcase.
The one currently in use is the same as [the slipcase for] the numbered version and is a
little too large."
Our thanks to Mr. Jackson for adding, for the record, one more state to the growing number
of states discovered for the Scream/Press edition of Skeleton Crew.
On October 22, 2004, Michael Anft provided details on his unique experience with Stephen King's Hodder & Stoughton edition of Rose Madder prior to the book's official publication:
Before the book's (very rare) proof was distributed, an in-house error resulted in
the manufacture of a proof based on LeCarré's first draft of the novel. The proof
was withdrawn and destroyed, but two or three copies are known to have survived.
I know of two copies and have heard (unsubstantiated rumours) of a third. The first
draft proof differs in almost every respect from the distributed proof and published book.
Page and chapter count are different, some names are different and, best of all, the
textual differences I have seen are colossal. I had the opportunity to compare both
proofs and restricted myself to just the end of the
book, which is quite, quite different. Apparently the mistake was made when LeCarré
gave the publishers a disk containing the first draft of the novel.