Wow... Leaves me speak less
Wow... Leaves me speak less
That's absolutely one for the "One of a kind" thread!
Simply amazing.
That publisher's copy (or prototype copy) is really special. Thanks for the photos, Gerald!
Absolutely Stunning Gerald. It is thanks to collectors like yourself and Bob that allow us mere mortals to see glimpses of these amazingly rare books. That copy with flames is fantastic!
"A real limited edition, far from being an expensive autograph stapled to a novel, is a treasure. And like all treasures do, it transforms the responsible owner into a caretaker, and being a caretaker of something as fragile and easily destroyed as ideas and images is not a bad thing but a good one...and so is the re-evaluation of what books are and what they do that necessarily follows." - Stephen King
Amazing stuff as ever, Gerald. Thanks again for sharing with us.
Jon already mentioned this earlier, but I'd like to thank him again for letting me into his home and showing me his great collection of books, many of which I was seeing for the first time 'in the flesh' so to speak... Although the SK books took most of my time and attention, Jon has a vast collection of books from other collectible authors as well. My side of the trade was these two matching SOD S/L to add to my seemingly rapidly increasing number of S/L's this year!
"A real limited edition, far from being an expensive autograph stapled to a novel, is a treasure. And like all treasures do, it transforms the responsible owner into a caretaker, and being a caretaker of something as fragile and easily destroyed as ideas and images is not a bad thing but a good one...and so is the re-evaluation of what books are and what they do that necessarily follows." - Stephen King
Great stuff, Simon.
Foster is Canadian who likes his books from the good ol' US of A.....but thanks for thinking of me. I got Running Man (1st/1st) at a bookstore in Bridgton Maine last month for $50...SWEET.Originally Posted by stroppygoblin
Congrats all, lovely book Kris, I was discussing with Jon today, that if I only ever had one lettered, that would be it!
Foster, good looking Rage. I Have a very nice Roadwork available, AND it's a first print! - well a first Canadian print, but you're Canadian right?Number line starts with 2.
Simply awesome, Gerald. Thanks SO MUCH for sharing!After enjoying the discussion I had with Peter Schneider concerning his involvement with the limited editions of The Regulators and The Stand, I got to thinking about one of my favorites, Firestarter.
I personally believe that with the attention to detail found in the Lettered Regulators, it is one of the most beautiful signed limited editions out there. However, there is something about opening Firestarter and hearing the spine crack each time, combined with the smell of the paper and boards that is quite intoxicating.
By today’s standards, it is minimalist in design, and I think that is why it is one of the few King limited’s that is sought after by non-King collectors around the world. Two of my copies were located in Japan and not in locales you would expect. One copy was purchased from a monk in Kyoto, before he started his training. He was not a King collector, but he purchased rare Western books that had designs not commonly found in Japanese society. He was an artist and from what I can gather, that was his only Stephen King book. He bought it at auction in New York when he lived there in the 1980s and kept it ever since at his home.
The other copy was purchased in Osaka from the estate of a man that had ties to Japanese organized crime. The book was in his office, displayed between two samurai swords, in a glass cabinet. Photos from circa 1990s show it there, and was sold by his family upon his premature demise. Rumors, and that is all they ever will be, say that when he brought people to his office, he would tell them that if they ‘messed up’, they could choose punishment by fire or the sword. I will never know which ones were dealt out, and I will never try to find out.
My other copy belonged to the late Charlie Fried, and while I never had the pleasure of meeting him in person, our email correspondences, and stories from others, show him to be a true gentleman. I am proud to have a few small pieces from his vast collection in my library, and they are well looked after.
My final copy is something rather unusual. It was purchased in London, probably 15 years ago from a publisher, who also happened to be a big Stephen King fan. I am not sure if you would call it a prototype, or a publishers copy, but the leather label on the cover is not the standard red rectangle, but an orange die cut in the shape of flames. I rather like this design because it’s brighter and gives you an indication of what is inside. For unknown reasons, this design was not chosen in place of the red label. Correspondences between Alex and Stephen discuss the Lettered edition in great detail. Alex had designed a rather unique tray-case for this edition, but it would have pushed the issue price to $325, so it was decided that the 26 copies would be issued sans tray-case.
I hope you enjoy.
Gerald
John
Great prides and joys all around!
The lettered Firestarters are stunning. I really appreciate the insights and back stories. Thanks, Gerald. I'm not a collector of limited editions yet, but this has been one of my favorites from the first time I saw a photo of it. I prefer the looks of limited editions that were issued without DJs anyway.
Gerald once again you dazzle us. I'm really amazed at these previously unknown one-of-a-kind items you keep posting. This one is just terrific to see. Thanks for posting!
Congratulations Simon on the trade you did. Looks sharp!
Gerald
another first to come to light. Amazing Firestarter Publisher's Copy.
Remarkable!
Thank you all for your kind words. I hope I am not posting too much now. I can stop if it's better. Don't want to overstay my welcome. I only post because people ask me to continue. I was very inactive for several years, so I have a lot of catching up to do.
I'll slow down.
Gerald
Everyone is making me envious. Congrats to all!
Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality. Edgar Allan Poe
You couldn't overstay your welcome here Gerald! Keep it up. Don't slow down!
Keep going Gerald!!
HELP ME FIND
Insomnia #459
ANY S/L #459
No, in fact: you better start a collection thread right now! An added walkthrough video is optional but would certainly give you some bonus reputation points.
Agreed. You should have a collection thread.
+1 from me Gerald I know a lot of your collection is not too hand, but whatever images you have would be great. Don't Hibernate!Agreed. You should have a collection thread.
"A real limited edition, far from being an expensive autograph stapled to a novel, is a treasure. And like all treasures do, it transforms the responsible owner into a caretaker, and being a caretaker of something as fragile and easily destroyed as ideas and images is not a bad thing but a good one...and so is the re-evaluation of what books are and what they do that necessarily follows." - Stephen King
Gerald for President
Your post blew me away. WOW Thank you for sharing.
Gerald, I truly don't think ANYONE thinks you're posting too much. We love to see the exotic (if that's the right word) works you've been showing us. Please continue.
John
What a thrill it is to see these! Thank you so much for sharing! Wow!
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