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AKC
08-02-2017, 05:18 AM
Curious as to how many of the Asbestos Lettered Firestarter editions are either owned by Members of this Forum or, at a minimum, the whereabouts are known.

Just post your Letter and I'll update the list. If you don't own a particular Letter, but know who does, let us know.

A - Alex Berman
B - THE FINE BOOKS COMPANY
C
D
E - THE FINE BOOKS COMPANY
F
G
H
I - Carlosdetweiller
J
K
L - Johhny007
M - AndyG75-Member TDT.ORG
N
O - Sold by Heritage Auctions 06/21 for $27K + $6750 Buyers Premium, total $33750
P
Q
R
S - needfulthings
T
U - Alec Smith
V
W
X - Fsmdr
Y - Michael Cross
Z - webstar1000

webstar1000
08-02-2017, 05:26 AM
Jason Canny - Letter Z

Mr. Rabbit Trick
08-02-2017, 06:06 AM
THE FINE BOOKS COMPANY / A.B.A.A / 1979 (ROCHESTER, MI, U.S.A.)
Two Lettered B and E

Tommy
08-02-2017, 06:13 AM
Wasn't one destroyed in a fire?

webstar1000
08-02-2017, 06:14 AM
Wasn't one destroyed in a fire?

i think it is a myth...

stroppygoblin
08-02-2017, 06:24 AM
Alec has letter U.

(it's on his collection thread, so I'm sure he wont mind me stating it)

Tommy
08-02-2017, 06:27 AM
Wasn't one destroyed in a fire?

i think it is a myth...

Really? Good to know.

herbertwest
08-02-2017, 09:40 AM
Mike Pasuik had or has one I believe.

webstar1000
08-02-2017, 09:46 AM
Mike Pasuik had or has one I believe.

David sold it.

Fsmdr
08-04-2017, 07:50 AM
I have letter X

biomieg
08-04-2017, 11:46 AM
Mike's copy was letter M, I believe. Gerald has several copies (including prototype) but I don't know the letters.

Cwalker
08-04-2017, 12:28 PM
To follow up on the Gerald connection, when I saw him last fall he showed me the copy he had on hand and mentioned it was heading "back to Japan" and that the owner was nice enough to let Gerlad keep it for a while to display. I did not catch the letter either, say sorry.

wizardsrainbow
08-07-2017, 01:48 PM
One resides in Wash DC area but I do not know the letter. A member here.

AKC
09-04-2017, 09:29 AM
Looks like ownership or, at a minimum, whereabouts of 9 of the 26 have been accounted for. One could conclude that the remaining 17 reside with private collectors or have been trashed, scrapped or caught fire.

Last one sold for $17,500 at Betts. From my perspective, given scarcity, likely worth every bit of it, if not more.

Alec
09-04-2017, 02:29 PM
I would concur with AKC that the remainder are in private collections.
Some may well have been read or damaged, however it would be my guess that there are a lot more private collectors that prefer to remain below the radar, than we give credence to.

Johnny007
09-04-2017, 02:30 PM
One resides in Wash DC area but I do not know the letter. A member here.

That DC area person is me and my letter is "L."

Sir_Boomme
07-26-2019, 09:08 AM
Kris Webster now owns that lettered "Z"

Johnny007
06-04-2021, 01:00 PM
I was curious about this thread's existence when I didn't see it in the first 4 pages of threads. Now that I found it, I'm a bit surprised that it hasn't been updated in 2+ years! Not even a bump for currency. All I can add is that letter "A" belongs to Alex Berman and letter "O" will change hands next week -- along with Kris now owning letter "Z."

John

amd013
06-04-2021, 01:21 PM
So for that letter O being auctioned at Heritage, is the front cover splitting off? Of is that some illusion? There is no mention of it in the description.

https://historical.ha.com/itm/books/stephen-king-firestarter-huntington-woods-mi-phantasia-press-1980-first-limited-edition-of-26-lettered-copies/a/6232-45253.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515

George at C-Springs
06-04-2021, 01:34 PM
I was curious about this thread's existence when I didn't see it in the first 4 pages of threads. Now that I found it, I'm a bit surprised that it hasn't been updated in 2+ years! Not even a bump for currency. All I can add is that letter "A" belongs to Alex Berman and letter "O" will change hands next week -- along with Kris now owning letter "Z."

A thread front page will only get updated when there's a change AND if one of the mods here "owns" the thread; as AKC isn't with us anymore, this one got marooned.

I'll pick it up; master list updated for Letters A, O and Z. Any other changes out there that anyone is aware of?

Thanks for pointing it out John.

Hunchback Jack
06-04-2021, 06:10 PM
So for that letter O being auctioned at Heritage, is the front cover splitting off? Of is that some illusion? There is no mention of it in the description.

https://historical.ha.com/itm/books/stephen-king-firestarter-huntington-woods-mi-phantasia-press-1980-first-limited-edition-of-26-lettered-copies/a/6232-45253.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515

I think it's just a reflection; there's no mention of that kind of damage in the description. But it does look remarkably like a split and frayed cloth cover.

wizardsrainbow
06-08-2021, 05:46 PM
Letter M (anonymous)...YES USED to be Mike Pasiuk's copy...now owned by a guy on East Coast...he passed away about a year ago and I am holding his collection (including the letter M Firestarter) until the girlfriend and the guy's family's lawyers figure out who OWNS the collection.

webstar1000
06-09-2021, 03:34 AM
Letter M (anonymous)...YES USED to be Mike Pasiuk's copy...now owned by a guy on East Coast...he passed away about a year ago and I am holding his collection (including the letter M Firestarter) until the girlfriend and the guy's family's lawyers figure out who OWNS the collection.

That is still going on??!! Wow

wizardsrainbow
06-09-2021, 08:14 AM
Letter M (anonymous)...YES USED to be Mike Pasiuk's copy...now owned by a guy on East Coast...he passed away about a year ago and I am holding his collection (including the letter M Firestarter) until the girlfriend and the guy's family's lawyers figure out who OWNS the collection.

That is still going on??!! Wow

yes...no word in 6 months

Johnny007
06-17-2021, 06:08 AM
Absolutely gobsmacked that there have been no comments on what seems to be a record price for an asbestos Firestarter. My bid fell short when 2 "live" bidders chimed in. A "cut bid" was the final winner at $27K w/o the BP. Add taxes and/or customs fee, we're looking at a $36K purchase. I think it's safe to say that prices are currently higher than anything we've seen before. Anyway, it was fun to participate and watch it happen live!

John

webstar1000
06-17-2021, 06:41 AM
Absolutely gobsmacked that there have been no comments on what seems to be a record price for an asbestos Firestarter. My bid fell short when 2 "live" bidders chimed in. A "cut bid" was the final winner at $27K w/o the BP. Add taxes and/or customs fee, we're looking at a $36K purchase. I think it's safe to say that prices are currently than anything we've seen before. Anyway, it was fun to participate and watch it happen live!

John

Its been discussed a LOT on the Rare King group. I really believed it would go over $30K as I knew a few prepared (with buyers prem) to go to that mark. Insane..... SO glad I have one and for a great price.

amd013
06-17-2021, 07:11 AM
Absolutely gobsmacked that there have been no comments on what seems to be a record price for an asbestos Firestarter. My bid fell short when 2 "live" bidders chimed in. A "cut bid" was the final winner at $27K w/o the BP. Add taxes and/or customs fee, we're looking at a $36K purchase. I think it's safe to say that prices are currently than anything we've seen before. Anyway, it was fun to participate and watch it happen live!

John

That seems in line for what I expected. Didn't it go for like 30K over 5 years ago? What is a "cut bid"?

Randall Flagg
06-17-2021, 09:19 AM
Great time to be a seller. A little tough on buyers, particularly with the more rare items.

MikeDuke
06-17-2021, 09:31 AM
Simply incredible.

Johnny007
06-17-2021, 10:45 AM
Absolutely gobsmacked that there have been no comments on what seems to be a record price for an asbestos Firestarter. My bid fell short when 2 "live" bidders chimed in. A "cut bid" was the final winner at $27K w/o the BP. Add taxes and/or customs fee, we're looking at a $36K purchase. I think it's safe to say that prices are currently than anything we've seen before. Anyway, it was fun to participate and watch it happen live!

John

That seems in line for what I expected. Didn't it go for like 30K over 5 years ago? What is a "cut bid"?

Bid increments are regulated when you reach different dollar thresholds. At that point in time, the bid increments were $2K. So you bid, 22, 24, 26, etc. until you reach $50K. Then the bid increments are raised to $5K. Heritage Auctions allow a bidder to make what called a "cut bid." A cut bid is an increment that's half of the normal increment. In this case, the cut bid allowed the bidder to bid $27K instead of the normal $28K. There can be only 1 cut bid per lot. Cut bids are useful when you think the competition is close to his/her maximum. Sometimes the cut bid is matched quickly which usually indicates more firepower and more excitement to come. FYI -- if there was a next bid, it would have been $28K followed by $30K.

Alex Berman (co-founder of Phantasia Press) recently mentioned that, in his recollection, the previous highest price for an asbestos Firestarter was $33K. I have no information to confirm or deny that number nor if the transaction was public or private. Hope this helps.

John

George at C-Springs
06-19-2021, 10:51 AM
Updated the master list to reflect the $27K sales price for Letter O

webstar1000
06-20-2021, 01:37 PM
Updated the master list to reflect the $27K sales price for Letter O

Should if not reflect the total with buyers premium? I mean the buyer paid that for The book….

Alec
06-20-2021, 05:27 PM
I did mention that. The actual price is $33,750, presuming Heritage charge 25% buyers premium.

George at C-Springs
06-20-2021, 06:38 PM
Master list updated for Letter O, added the 25% BP ($6750) for total $33750. Thanks Alec!

ExtremeWaysABA
01-12-2022, 04:33 PM
I have seen the Heritage auction sale, and also know of a very recent private sale. Personally, I do not want to pay an auction house an exorbitant fee and would much rather my money go to someone here on this site. As such, I am on the hunt for a copy of this beauty for my own collection and am ready to pay some serious money - $31k+ (make me an offer!!). I was very, very fortunate to obtain a brand new, never opened lettered Misery and matching cube from a great member on this site, and would very much like to have the same amazing experience with another amazing book and seller. If anyone is willing to part with their copy, I am willing to deal. Please feel free to PM me here. Thanks, everyone!

ExtremeWaysABA
01-27-2022, 01:35 PM
Michael Cross - Letter Y

Garrell
01-27-2022, 08:06 PM
Congrats

herbertwest
01-28-2022, 01:20 AM
Nice !

andyg75
04-17-2022, 11:58 AM
I am currently the owner of Letter M, just in case you wanted to update

ExtremeWaysABA
10-28-2022, 05:55 PM
I'll post again, since the list hasn't been updated. I currently own letter Y. Several other owners can attest to this. It has never been opened more than a few centimeters and is in astounding condition. Purchase price was a record $35k. This book is only going higher.

Randall Flagg
10-28-2022, 07:38 PM
I'll post again, since the list hasn't been updated. I currently own letter Y. Several other owners can attest to this. It has never been opened more than a few centimeters and is in astounding condition. Purchase price was a record $35k. This book is only going higher.

Congratulations on owning one of the rarest of King books.
Please post a current picture of the limitation page (or other collaboration) so that you can be added to the ownership page.

ExtremeWaysABA
11-07-2022, 12:22 AM
https://share.icloud.com/photos/062hufOYjRXHCjDQ4v5tP_mTQhttps://share.icloud.com/photos/0aaBformFbasa00vdnnQ8uBKw

As I do not have the permission to post attachments, that’s going to be slightly difficult to show pictures.

Perhaps, I can link it to my Facebook cover image…
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=101009549464474&set=a.101009566131139&type=3

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02PGnFiM1EopKMKsyjydLJRv MixePThRu8k63szxtNVcoRsAsrWCZi9ns1ueuXBFXCl&id=100086662861626

stroppygoblin
11-07-2022, 02:55 PM
I can vouch for Michael owing this copy. I've updated the list accordingly.