Current Market Value-Experts assess yours, or other's collectible King item

[Johnny007]

Are these priced too high and that's why they haven't sold? Do people just not want PC editions?

I think it is because noone wants PC editions, except for the 5 people in the world who collect them. And they have them already.

Early PC editions get a bad rap because of the recent (last 7-10 years) money grab by organizations printing multiple PCs and selling them at market value vs. issue price. DT PCs (especially I, II, and III) are rare and having a complete set is difficult to attain. A complete set of Publisher Copies is much harder to find than a numbered set. As Rabbit Trick alluded above, there are not many complete sets in existence. My guess is that there are 5-7 in the world...and they would most assuredly sell for more than a complete numbered set.

[needfulthings]

Are these priced too high and that's why they haven't sold? Do people just not want PC editions?

I think it is because noone wants PC editions, except for the 5 people in the world who collect them. And they have them already.

Early PC editions get a bad rap because of the recent (last 7-10 years) money grab by organizations printing multiple PCs and selling them at market value vs. issue price. DT PCs (especially I, II, and III) are rare and having a complete set is difficult to attain. A complete set of Publisher Copies is much harder to find than a numbered set. As Rabbit Trick alluded above, there are not many complete sets in existence. My guess is that there are 5-7 in the world...and they would most assuredly sell for more than a complete numbered set.

How the hell can it be harder to put a PC set together when you have multiple chances to match them & only one chance to match a number?... 5 or 7 sets with the SAME NUMBER would be less valuable then a single numbered set.

[webstar1000]

Are these priced too high and that's why they haven't sold? Do people just not want PC editions?

I think it is because noone wants PC editions, except for the 5 people in the world who collect them. And they have them already.

Early PC editions get a bad rap because of the recent (last 7-10 years) money grab by organizations printing multiple PCs and selling them at market value vs. issue price. DT PCs (especially I, II, and III) are rare and having a complete set is difficult to attain. A complete set of Publisher Copies is much harder to find than a numbered set. As Rabbit Trick alluded above, there are not many complete sets in existence. My guess is that there are 5-7 in the world...and they would most assuredly sell for more than a complete numbered set.

How the hell can it be harder to put a PC set together when you have multiple chances to match them & only one chance to match a number?... 5 or 7 sets with the SAME NUMBER would be less valuable then a single numbered set.

I totally agree.... Matching a single number is harder. Period.

[divemaster]

In Johnny007's defense, he did not say a same number set, just a complete numbered set. One could have a "complete" set of all the books made up of various numbers.

Still, I disagree about the value of a PC set. I'd much rather have a complete set of random numbers than an all-PC set. I wouldn't buy a PC set for 50 cents on the dollar. Hell, probably not for 20 cents on the dollar. At least not to keep. Maybe if I knew I could sell it to someone who actually likes PC copies.

[Jimimck]

What would you say the value of the set would be if they were random numbers?

For me it's more about the books as opposed to a matching set...

[The Library Policeman]

It's all about personal preference I think. PC's don't bother me in the slightest. My Blockade Billy S/L is a PC.

[divemaster]

What would you say the value of the set would be if they were random numbers?

Prices below might be a bit high for some of the volumes. For example, V, VI, VII, and LSOE commonly sell for around $350. I bought a high number III for $275 a couple of years ago, but have seen low numbers sell for over twice that. Any number below 500 would be worth a bit more.

I: $4,500
II: $1,000
III: $500
IV: $800
V: $400
VI: $400
VII: $400
LSOE: $400
TWTTK: $1,200

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

What would you say the value of the set would be if they were random numbers?

At Betts now...

Complete Dark Tower S/L Set....FOR LESS THAN $10,000! Gunslinger S/L is #203 and perfect; Dark Tower II - VII + Little Sisters of Eluria + Wind Through the Keyhole are all S/L matching #767...all are also perfect...full DT S/L set - AWESOME PRICE - $9,500

[Jimimck]

Thanks guys. Based on what DT1 sells for I see that PC set is priced about right if you assume those prices above and don't take the PC issues in to consideration.

RT made a good point in another thread that I need to consider the time it has taken for the PC set to sell already. If I ever sunk that kind of cash in to some books I'd need to know I could get my money back if I needed.

The seller has confirmed he has an arrangement to buy any future DT books from Grant and would pass that right to the me.

[Johnny007]

Are these priced too high and that's why they haven't sold? Do people just not want PC editions?

I think it is because noone wants PC editions, except for the 5 people in the world who collect them. And they have them already.

Early PC editions get a bad rap because of the recent (last 7-10 years) money grab by organizations printing multiple PCs and selling them at market value vs. issue price. DT PCs (especially I, II, and III) are rare and having a complete set is difficult to attain. A complete set of Publisher Copies is much harder to find than a numbered set. As Rabbit Trick alluded above, there are not many complete sets in existence. My guess is that there are 5-7 in the world...and they would most assuredly sell for more than a complete numbered set.

How the hell can it be harder to put a PC set together when you have multiple chances to match them & only one chance to match a number?... 5 or 7 sets with the SAME NUMBER would be less valuable then a single numbered set.

I totally agree.... Matching a single number is harder. Period.

Wow, I guess you all put me in my place. While I didn't go to the Jethro Bodine advanced cyphering classes, I always thought that having 500 chances to complete a set was easier than maybe 10-15 chances. Just how difficult is it to find a same-numbered set? Aren't there about 60-70 of those sets sitting around the world? How many Publisher's Copy sets? I'm just a novice in this field so please forgive my naivete.

[George at C-Springs]

Wow, I guess you all put me in my place. While I didn't go to the Jethro Bodine advanced cyphering classes, I always thought that having 500 chances to complete a set was easier than maybe 10-15 chances. Just how difficult is it to find a same-numbered set? Aren't there about 60-70 of those sets sitting around the world? How many Publisher's Copy sets? I'm just a novice in this field so please forgive my naivete.

Personally I love PCs, have a few in my collection. Is it harder to get a complete numbered set or PC set? Depends how you look at it. If there were only 5 PC sets made but 500 limited, PCs are much harder ... but if looking for a specific number then that too presents it's own challenge. I'd love to have a complete set of PCs for DT, but they come up for sale few and far between. On the other hand, I could buy a complete set of matching numbered DTs any day of the week provided I had the cash to shell out. JMO.

[Randall Flagg]

Wow, I guess you all put me in my place. While I didn't go to the Jethro Bodine advanced cyphering classes, I always thought that having 500 chances to complete a set was easier than maybe 10-15 chances. Just how difficult is it to find a same-numbered set? Aren't there about 60-70 of those sets sitting around the world? How many Publisher's Copy sets? I'm just a novice in this field so please forgive my naivete.

Calm down. You asked for opinions and you received them. I don't see where anyone inferred you were a hillbilly.
As for same numbered sets, there are confirmed to be > 60 complete numbered sets and >6 complete PC sets.
There are many definitions of a complete set. Some people think all numbers (letters) must match, others don't fret so much about the issue.
I have DTII-DTVII + LSOE & TWTTK that all are #707. I could buy a DTI S/L anytime I wanted (as long as I have ~$5K handy). The DTI will never be #707, but if I'm happy, that's all that really matters.

[Johnny007]

Wow, I guess you all put me in my place. While I didn't go to the Jethro Bodine advanced cyphering classes, I always thought that having 500 chances to complete a set was easier than maybe 10-15 chances. Just how difficult is it to find a same-numbered set? Aren't there about 60-70 of those sets sitting around the world? How many Publisher's Copy sets? I'm just a novice in this field so please forgive my naivete.

Calm down. You asked for opinions and you received them. I don't see where anyone inferred you were a hillbilly.
As for same numbered sets, there are confirmed to be > 60 complete numbered sets and >6 complete PC sets.
There are many definitions of a complete set. Some people think all numbers (letters) must match, others don't fret so much about the issue.
I have DTII-DTVII + LSOE & TWTTK that all are #707. I could buy a DTI S/L anytime I wanted (as long as I have ~$5K handy). The DTI will never be #707, but if I'm happy, that's all that really matters.

Please read the posts again. I asked for no opinions and I accused no one of inferring I'm a hillbilly. I used JB math analogy to point out that 500 chances are better than 15. And I am calm -- just look at my mood!!!

[Randall Flagg]

Wow, I guess you all put me in my place. While I didn't go to the Jethro Bodine advanced cyphering classes, I always thought that having 500 chances to complete a set was easier than maybe 10-15 chances. Just how difficult is it to find a same-numbered set? Aren't there about 60-70 of those sets sitting around the world? How many Publisher's Copy sets? I'm just a novice in this field so please forgive my naivete.

Calm down. You asked for opinions and you received them. I don't see where anyone inferred you were a hillbilly.
As for same numbered sets, there are confirmed to be > 60 complete numbered sets and >6 complete PC sets.
There are many definitions of a complete set. Some people think all numbers (letters) must match, others don't fret so much about the issue.
I have DTII-DTVII + LSOE & TWTTK that all are #707. I could buy a DTI S/L anytime I wanted (as long as I have ~$5K handy). The DTI will never be #707, but if I'm happy, that's all that really matters.

Please read the posts again. I asked for no opinions and I accused no one of inferring I'm a hillbilly. I used JB math analogy to point out that 500 chances are better than 15. And I am calm -- just look at my mood!!!

Ok.

[tippy4]

In Johnny007's defense, he did not say a same number set, just a complete numbered set. One could have a "complete" set of all the books made up of various numbers.

Still, I disagree about the value of a PC set. I'd much rather have a complete set of random numbers than an all-PC set. I wouldn't buy a PC set for 50 cents on the dollar. Hell, probably not for 20 cents on the dollar. At least not to keep. Maybe if I knew I could sell it to someone who actually likes PC copies.

I think your view is on the extreme side.

I agree that PC editions are not for everyone, but I believe they only sell for maybe 10-20% less than numbered editions.

This is one of those debates that makes no sense to me....

Why is a PC edition worth less than a numbered copy?...and for that matter...is it?

Just like high and low numbers......some knucklehead started perpetuating the myth that book #2 is somehow worth more than book #498...I just don't get it.

If you poll 100 members here, and asked them if they would have #2 or #498, they would either answer "#2" or "I don't care"...but nobody would say "give me #498" (unless that was "their number").

Why?

[divemaster]

I agree it is an extreme view. But I was only reflecting my opinion, not trying to set a general scale. To me (and only speaking for me), a PC set is so far down in value (again, to me) that I would never be happy having it on the shelf. I'd always refer to it as "that damned PC set."

As far as specific numbers go for non-DT books, I could give a rat's ass. Every time I've had the opportunity (CD, SP, whatever) to pick a number, I've declined. Any number is as good as another as far as I'm concerned. I have NO desire to have books "match up," other than the DT books, and that's manly due to Grant's marketing genius and perceived value of others.

[Randall Flagg]

As far as specific numbers go for non-DT books, I could give a rat's ass. Every time I've had the opportunity (CD, SP, whatever) to pick a number, I've declined. Any number is as good as another as far as I'm concerned. I have NO desire to have books "match up," other than the DT books, and that's manly due to Grant's marketing genius and perceived value of others.

I am right there with you on the number thing. I just order, and what I get is what I get. I figure if I'm not bothering the publisher, that gives them more time to help people that need a specific number (unless it's the one I randomly received -last book was #1 )

[tippy4]

I agree it is an extreme view. But I was only reflecting my opinion, not trying to set a general scale. To me (and only speaking for me), a PC set is so far down in value (again, to me) that I would never be happy having it on the shelf. I'd always refer to it as "that damned PC set."

As far as specific numbers go for non-DT books, I could give a rat's ass. Every time I've had the opportunity (CD, SP, whatever) to pick a number, I've declined. Any number is as good as another as far as I'm concerned. I have NO desire to have books "match up," other than the DT books, and that's manly due to Grant's marketing genius and perceived value of others.

And I misunderstood your comment to include all S/Ls (not just Dark Tower)....and on top of that, thought you meant as a rule vs. your opinion.

I really should learn to read.

[Randall Flagg]

I really should learn to read.

Don't feel bad. I was supposed to learn another language, but I'm still working on English. Reading comes next.

[carlosdetweiller]

I always thought that having 500 chances to complete a set was easier than maybe 10-15 chances. Just how difficult is it to find a same-numbered set? Aren't there about 60-70 of those sets sitting around the world? How many Publisher's Copy sets? I'm just a novice in this field so please forgive my naivete.

I agree with you. I tried to make this point several months ago (that the number 12 was less than the number 500) but some seemed to not believe it.

I seem to value "PC" editions more than most other collectors. One of my collecting goals was to get every King book in every state possible. That often meant getting a numbered S/L, a lettered S/L and PC copies of both the numbered and lettered states. I can tell you from my experiences that it was usually harder (and often more expensive) to get the PCs. There are relatively few available for collectors.

Now, if I wasn't trying to get all of the possible states and only wanted one example of the book I would definitely want a numbered edition vs. a PC edition (or a lettered edition vs. a PC of the lettered edition). But if you want them all you have to search much harder as PCs can be very difficult to find. I only got my PC of Grant's edition of Desperation three or four months ago. I have no idea why it was so difficult for me to find one (without spending $600).

My PC set of DT books is one of the gems in my collection (IMO, anyway). I think if I had to sell a set I would sell my matching numbered set before I would sell the PC set.

Anyway, different strokes for different folks. (Sly and the Family Stone, 1969)

[Randall Flagg]

Study the words from sensei
先生

The are true.

[Br!an]

I always thought that having 500 chances to complete a set was easier than maybe 10-15 chances. Just how difficult is it to find a same-numbered set? Aren't there about 60-70 of those sets sitting around the world? How many Publisher's Copy sets? I'm just a novice in this field so please forgive my naivete.

The books are the same. The difference is in the limitation. In your example there are 10-15 chances to build a PC set and only one for each discrete number. It is only after the complete sets are built that the 10-15 PC sets become more "rare" when compared to the entirety of non-PC complete number sets.

[Jimimck]

Thanks Bob, you make make some good points.

Being the guy who started all this hooplah, I just wanted to point out I'm more interested in having signed limited editions of the books than in having a matching set. Now this particular set just happens to be matching PC copies and so I thought I'd try and gauge the value. PC vs Numbered isn't a concern for me, if the price was right and I believed I could cash out my investment if I needed to.

I think there might be some wriggle room in the $5k asking price for this particular set too, and the shipping is local so that has a positive spin for me too.

In the end I doubt I'll put in an offer, but I do appreciate all your comments, as it's been great food for thought either way.

Cheers!

[Merlin1958]

I always thought that having 500 chances to complete a set was easier than maybe 10-15 chances. Just how difficult is it to find a same-numbered set? Aren't there about 60-70 of those sets sitting around the world? How many Publisher's Copy sets? I'm just a novice in this field so please forgive my naivete.

I agree with you. I tried to make this point several months ago (that the number 12 was less than the number 500) but some seemed to not believe it.

I seem to value "PC" editions more than most other collectors. One of my collecting goals was to get every King book in every state possible. That often meant getting a numbered S/L, a lettered S/L and PC copies of both the numbered and lettered states. I can tell you from my experiences that it was usually harder (and often more expensive) to get the PCs. There are relatively few available for collectors.

Now, if I wasn't trying to get all of the possible states and only wanted one example of the book I would definitely want a numbered edition vs. a PC edition (or a lettered edition vs. a PC of the lettered edition). But if you want them all you have to search much harder as PCs can be very difficult to find. I only got my PC of Grant's edition of Desperation three or four months ago. I have no idea why it was so difficult for me to find one (without spending $600).

My PC set of DT books is one of the gems in my collection (IMO, anyway). I think if I had to sell a set I would sell my matching numbered set before I would sell the PC set.

Anyway, different strokes for different folks. (Sly and the Family Stone, 1969)

Hmmm, is "PC" really considered a "state"? I have always thought, from what I read here, that a "PC" is generally just a spare numbered/Lettered in case of shipping loss/damage. I realize that in some instances they are actually reserved for certain folk, Author, Artist, etc, which is why initially I thought they were cooler. Like an "inside" copy. I know different folks have different collecting rules, but hearing your take on the matter, Bob really means something. You're never too old to learn.

[KingKorn]

Hey what do you guys think a movie poster of Stand By Me that's signed by all the players - Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, River Phoenix, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, Richard Dreyfus, Rob Reiner, and the man himself, Stephen King would be worth?

I know a guy who knows I'm into SK and he has a friend with this poster. There is supposedly some kind of CoA and lifetime guarantee. I haven't seen it yet. What you think on value?