Doubleday Printings

[daniel_pyle]

Hey, everybody. I've been trying to compile a list of the different printings of the Doubleday first editions. Eventually (late '87 or early '88), Doubleday started putting a number line on the copyright page. I've seen first editions of Carrie with a price of $16.95 and a 10th printing number line, a 13th printing of 'Salem's Lot ($19.95), and a 11th printing of Night Shift ($17.95), etc. So I figure if I keep logging the different prices/gutter codes I run across, I'll eventually be able to fill in all the gaps between the first printings and those later printings.

I know this is all a super inexact science. Especially given the way people sometimes swap dust jackets, but I think with enough data, I should at least be able to get a pretty good idea. And I'm hoping maybe you all can help me fill in missing bits, correct things that aren't right, etc.

Here's what I have so far:

NI = no number line or gutter code indicator

Carrie
(unofficial list)

Gutter Code	Price	Printing
P6	5.95	1
V8	7.95	2
W16	10.95	3
Y45	12.95	4
Z16	13.95	5
Z46	14.95	6
AA42	15.95	7
BB1	15.95	8
NI	16.95	9
…	16.95	10
…	17.95	11

Phiesen	13*, 2
Holdorf	3+

*The 13th printing appears to have two DJ states, one with the title laid out horizontally and a more common one with the title turned 90º and running down the spine, which was then used going forward.

'Salem's Lot
(unofficial working list; blank lines are only guesses )

Gutter Code	Price	Printing
Q37	8.95/7.95	1
Q41	7.95	…
T42	8.95	…
U48	9.95	…
V40	11.95	…
…	…	…
Y38	14.95	…
Z22	15.95	…
Z?	16.95	…
AA37	16.95	…
BB1	17.95	…
CC36	18.95	…
…	19.95	13
…	19.95	14

Phiesen	15-17
Holdorf	18+

The Shining
(unofficial working list; blank lines are only guesses )

Gutter Code	Price	Printing
R49	8.95	1
S3	8.95	…
S10	8.95	…
S14	8.95	…
…	…	…
Z10	14.95	…
Z32	15.95	…
Z46	16.95	…
AA29	18.95	…
AA48	18.95	…
CC25	19.95	…
NI	19.95	…
…	19.95	13

Phiesen	14-16
Holdorf	17+

Night Shift
(unofficial working list; blank lines are only guesses )

Gutter Code	Price	Printing
S52	8.95	1
T?	8.95	…
U18	8.95	…
…	…	…
…	…	…
Z?	14.95	…
AA9	15.95	…
BB?	15.95	…
CC15	16.95	…
NI	17.95	…
…	17.95	11
…	18.95	12

Phiesen	13-15?
Holdorf	16?+

The Stand
(unofficial working list; blank lines are only guesses )

Gutter Code	Price	Printing
T39	12.95	1
T51	12.95	…
…	…	…
Y29	15.95	…
Z5	17.95	…
Z20	17.95	…
Z46	18.95	…
AA29	19.95	…
AA48	19.95	…
BB50	19.95	…
CC32	19.95	…
NI	19.95	…
…	19.95	13
…	21.95	14

Uncut	1-9
Holdorf	9+

Pet Sematary
(unofficial working list; blank lines are only guesses )

Gutter Code	Price	Printing
Y38	15.95	1
Y39?	15.95	…
Y43	15.95	…
Y45	15.95	…
Y46	15.95	…
Y49	15.95	…
…	17.95	…
…	…	…
…	…	…
…	19.95	10
…	19.95	11
…	21.95	12
…	21.95	13

Holdorf

14-15

I've added blank lines where I think missing printings are likely to be, but a lot of that is just guess work at this point.

For whatever reason, the biggest gaps seem to be between S-T and Y-Z ('77-'78 and '83-'84). I don't know if there was something going on in those years or just fewer copies being printed or what. Or maybe they didn't print anything for a while after he left for Viking? I don't know. But for several of the books, as you can see, there's a big jump in the middle from $8.95 to $14.95 where either there weren't many copies or I just haven't seen them.

Anyway, I know this is information many people probably don't care about, but I just think it would be neat to know.

I'd especially love to know if anyone has a copy of The Shining or Pet Sematary with a number line, because those are two I haven't come across yet, and without end points, I'm not even sure how many different printings I'm looking for. I finally found examples for both of these.