Looking for any and all custom bound 'Salem's Lot books. Emphasis is on (but not limited to) the page blocks from the Centipede Press Signed Limited version done by Betts Books.
~September 2014 I saw a rebound (actually a first bound) copy of 'Salem's Lot selling on ebay for a surprising amount. I already owned a burgundy spine version. The thought came to me to track down some if not all of the copies that Stu Tinker had bound; (as well as all other custom bound copies). There are numerous variations on what Stu had done (more to come later on that). I still am FAR from figuring out all of the iterations/permutations of the 24+1 copies Stu had bound. In addition, there are a few additional page blocks that have been bound by others.
A little history on the book blocks purchased by Stu Tinker (original owner of Betts Books):
Sometime in 2004 Stu Tinker purchased unbound page blocks from Jared Walters at Centipede Press. The blocks were from the Signed Limited version of Centipede’s ‘Salem’s Lot. Stu Tinker says he bought 29 page blocks from Centipede Press. One copy was bound by Gray Parrot of Bangor Maine. Three-quarter bound in leather with a marbled cover, the book did not have the original art in it. Although magnificent, Stu felt the cost to have all remaining copies done by Parrot would not be economically feasible. Parrot’s cost was 2-3 times what the eventual binder’s quote was. Stu does not recall who the binder was that bound the other 24 copies, nor the issue price. He “thinks” the books sold for $150. Stu says four unbound blocks were sold to David Williamson as part of David’s acquisition of Betts Books.
24 blocks were bound. Most three-quarter bound in leather. 12 blocks had black leather spines and 12 had burgundy leather spines. It’s confirmed that at least two different colors were used for the fabric boards on the burgundy bound book. At least one burgundy bound book was fully bound in leather (and surprising had the artwork inserted in the correct places) but as of now it’s unknown how many, if any, other colors were used. Marbled endpapers were intentionally used “randomly” so that few if any books would be exactly the same. Additionally, several different color slipcases were used (red, grey and light brown have been confirmed-there may be more). To make things even more interesting, Stu stated to me that he chose to intentionally have the original artwork inserted in the books in incorrect order.
According to noted Stephen King collector Bob Jackson:
“The Gray Parrot edition has no illustrations at all but definitely uses the S/L text block. The pages are 13" tall and the thickness of the text block is 2 and 1/2".
Both the black and the burgundy Betts editions I have use S/L pages BUT they have been trimmed to 11 and 1/2" tall. It is easy to see that the top and bottom margins on each page are less on the Betts bound editions. Both the black and burgundy Betts editions have illustrations but they seem to be all over the place and randomly placed in the book. The placement of the illustrations is the same on both my black and burgundy editions but the placement is not even remotely similar to the placement in the S/L.”
The combination of two different spine colors, multiple board colors, random marbled endpaper usage, different color slipcases, and artwork often in incorrect order means that few IF any books are exactly the same!
In 2014 Betts Books current owner David Williamson and TheDarktower.org owner Jerome Smith collaborated to use Betts Books last two page blocks. These two were three-quarter bound in leather, with one being black leather and grey boards, and the other burgundy leather and red boards. Both copies have the correct 13” tall page blocks, and had the artwork inserted in the correct placement.