Stephen King Proofs

[jhanic]

Please Send Updates, Including Photos/Documentation, to "George at C-Springs"

Stephen King Proofs
Established May 31, 2007 by John Hanic
Edited December 10, 2020

US
Carrie white cover (O50)
Carrie green cover (P6) (one known copy)
Carrie beige cover (one or two copies known) larger than the green cover one
Salem’s Lot green cover oblong size
Salem's Lot off-white cover (one known copy)
Shining blue cover with black tape spine 55 copies
Night Shift green cover
Stand light brown cover oblong size
Stand blue/green cover (one known copy)
Dolan's Cadillac blue cover
Dolan's Cadillac brown cover
Dead Zone yellow cover
Firestarter orange cover
Firestarter orange cover w/sticker
Cujo Olive green cover
Danse Macabre orange cover
Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger (Plume) orange cover
Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger (Plume) ARC Variant Cover does not mention any proof or ARC condition
Different Seasons submission manuscript with heavy paper covers
Different Seasons gray decorative cover
The Plant part 1 green dust jacket over a beige cover
Christine
Pet Sematary red cardboard covers 2 volumes "Stevie Prince" Fewer than 10 copies?
Pet Sematary first state Typewritten trade cover fewer than 50 copies
Pet Semetary second state Typeset trade cover
The Plant part 2 green dust jacket over a beige cover
Eyes of the Dragon Philtrum Press HC Designers Proof 1 known copy
Eyes of the Dragon (with packet of art enclosed) olive green cover
The Talisman yellow cover
Thinner ABA edition
Skeleton Crew yellow cover
Skeleton Crew yellow cover w/sticker
The Bachman Books orange cover 200 copies ?
The Plant part 3 green dust jacket over a beige cover
It red cover
It red cover w/sticker
It set of 3 manuscript volumes comb binding (very scarce)
Misery red cover
Misery manuscript comb binding (BMOC) green cover 12 copies?
Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (Plume) First state picture cover
Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (Plume) Second state orange cover
Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (Plume) Third state orange cover with sticker
The Tommyknockers trade cover with gold title
The Tommyknockers manuscript two volumes comb binding (BMOC) 18 copies?
The Tommyknockers manuscript two volumes flat binding
Nightmares in the Sky white cover partial proof
Dark Half white cover with birds
Four Past Midnight grey cover very scarce
Four Past Midnight deep blue cover
Four Past Midnight deep blue cover w/sticker
The Dead Zone (Signet) blue cover
The Uncut Stand white/black trade cover 200 copies
Needful Things
Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (Grant) white cover with packet of art
Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (Plume) trade cover
Carrie Plume partial proof four random pages, very rare
Gerald’s Game ABA cardboard slipcase hardcover 2000 copies ?
Gerald’s Game tan cover
Dolores Claiborne white cover
Dolores Claiborne white cover w/sticker
Nightmares and Dreamscapes white cover
Nightmares and Dreamscapes white cover w/sticker
Insomnia trade white with red letters cover
Rose Madder rose cover 10,000 copies?
Green Mile #1 green cover fewer than 15 copies ?
Green Mile #1 signed manuscript contest proof 6 (36?) copies
Green Mile #2 green cover 45 copies ?
Green Mile #3 green cover 45 copies ?
Green Mile #4 green cover 45 copies ?
Green Mile #5 green cover 45 copies ?
Green Mile #6 green cover 10 copies ?
Desperation manuscript two volumes comb binding printed cover and spine(12 copies?)
Desperation manuscript two volumes comb binding white cover and blank spine(12 copies?)
Desperation first state (“Steven”)
Desperation second state (“Stephen”)
Regulators first state
Regulators second state (“A” on spine)
Regulators manuscript spiral bound (12 copies?)
Six Stories Roman numeral 24 copies
Six Stories unnumbered ? copies
Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (Grant) white cover
Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (Plume) trade cover
Bag of Bones trade cover
Bag of Bones Signed trade cover with personalized letter signed by King 100 copies ?
Bag of Bones Large format “Second Draft” white cover with black tape spine
Storm of the Century manuscript white cover w/ black tape spine "For Pocket Eyes Only" very rare
Storm of the Century manuscript white cover with black tape spine
Storm of the Century bound w/trade cover (one known copy)
Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon manuscript with black tape spine 13 copies
New Lieutenant's Rap 24 copies numbered and initialed by Michael Alpert string binding
New Lieutenant's Rap unnumbered unsigned ? copies
Hearts in Atlantis trade cover
Hearts in Atlantis manuscript proof with black tape spine (20 copies in-house only)
On Writing trade cover
Dreamcatcher manuscript white cover with black tape spine
Dreamcatcher blue cover
Black House blue design cover
Black House full proof unbound manuscript
Black House full proof manuscript black descriptive cover with black tape binding
Black House partial proof (first 43 pages with black tape binding)
From a Buick 8 manuscript trade cover with black tape spine
From a Buick 8 blue cover
From a Buick 8 blue cover w/sticker
Everything’s Eventual blue cover
Dark Tower I: Revised Gunslinger tan cover
Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla blue cover unbound proof
Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla blue cover
Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla blue cover w/sticker
Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla blue cover with black tape spine (1 known copy)
Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah blue cover
Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah blue cover w/sticker
Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah blue cover with black tape spine
Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower blue cover
Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower blue cover with black tape spine (1 known copy)
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon pop-up white binder cover
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon pop-up partial proof trade cover
The Illustrated Salem’s Lot trade cover
The Colorado Kid unbound proof
Faithful white cover partial manuscript
Faithful white cover full manuscript with picture on first page (cover?)
Cell blue cover very scarce
Lisey's Story red with publisher’s letter cover 7000 copies ?
Secretary of Dreams Volume 1 Unbound proof 1st proof, 2nd proof
Secretary of Dreams Volume 1 Large format gift edition cover
Blaze blue cover
Blaze blue cover w/sticker
Blaze manuscript proof tan cover with black tape spine ($24 price on cover)
Blaze manuscript proof white cover with black tape spine ($25 price on cover)
Blaze manuscript proof white cover with black tape spine ($25 price on cover) w/sticker
Duma Key second draft manuscript with white tape spine (20 copies?)
Duma Key blue cover
Just After Sunset blue cover
Little Sisters of Eluria white cover (1 copy known)
Stephen King Goes to the Movies 8.5x11 bound galley proof wth white tape spine very rare
Under the Dome blue cover
Under the Dome hardcover with "Proof" printed on the back of the dust jacket
Under the Dome second draft manuscript proofs three volumes with black tape spine (very scarce)
Blockade Billy unbound proof (scarce) CP says 2nd printing but actually 1st printing
Blockade Bill white cover (about 16 copies)
Blockade Billy trade cover (about 60 copies)
Riding the Bullet double trade cover (55 copies)
Riding the Bullet CD illustrated cover comb binding (very scarce)
Full Dark, No Stars blue cover
Full Dark, No Stars blue cover w/sticker
Full Dark, No Stars blue cover with white tape spine
Full Dark, No Stars blue cover with white tape spine w/sticker
Full Dark, No Stars blue cover with black tape spine
Full Dark, No Stars Black galley proof (10 copies)
Full Dark, No Stars CD proof trade gift/lettered edition cover art(20 copies)
Full Dark, No Stars CD proof trade signed limited numbered edition cover art (20 copies)
Full Dark, No Stars CD unbound proof scarce 1st proof, 2nd proof, 3rd proof
Full Dark, No Stars CD unbound color proof (1 known copy)
Secretary of Dreams Volume 2 unbound proof 1st proof, 2nd proof, 3rd proof
Secretary of Dreams Volume 2 Large format gift edition cover with number
Secretary of Dreams Volume 2 Large format gift edition cover
11/22/63 blue cover
It: 25th Anniversary Edition unbound proof (scarce) 2nd proof
It: 25th Anniversary Edition unbound color proof (1 known copy)
It: 25th Anniversary Edition red/black cover (10-12 copies)
It: 25th Anniversary Edition CD proof (20 copies)
The Wind Through the Keyhole blue cover
The Wind Through the Keyhole white cover with black taped spine
Battleground trade cover
Joyland trade cover
Ghost Brothers of Darkland County trade cover (includes 2-CD set)
The Dark Man trade cover 200 copies
The Dark Man slipcased trade cover 50 copies
The Dark Man in-house galley black/orange cover 20 copies, 10 of which were actually used
The Dark Man unbound proof unbound 1st proof, 3rd proof
Doctor Sleep CD Gift Edition Advance Review Copy, "Fireface" cover w/yellow bar at top and Doctor Sleep in blue
Doctor Sleep CD Advance Review Copy, "Smokeface" cover w/yellow bar at top and Doctor Sleep in red
Doctor Sleep CD Advance Review Copy, "Half Body" cover with yellow bar at top and Doctor Sleep in red
Doctor Sleep CD unbound proof 2nd proof
Doctor Sleep CD in-house advance uncorrected proof, black cover with "Smokeface", "Printed for internal office purpose only. Not for sale or distribution." on back cover. 20 copies, 10 of which were actually used
The Shining Subterranean Press trade cover 20 copies very scarce
Mr. Mercedes trade cover
Mr. Mercedes trade cover with black tape spine and blank back (1 known copy)
Revival trade cover
Carrie 40th Anniversary edition CD unbound proof 1st proof, 2nd proof
Carrie 40th Anniversary edition CD unbound color proof (1 known copy)
Carrie 40th Anniversary edition CD galley proof with black border
Carrie 40th Anniversary edition CD trade cover
Carrie 40th Anniversary edition CD variant "Door" cover (very scarce)
Faithful Anniversary edition Books to Benefit/CD alternate cover
Faithful Anniversary edition unbound proof (1 known copy)
Finders Keepers white cover with black lettering and binding
Finders Keepers trade cover
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams unbound 2nd draft
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams trade cover
Salem's Lot CD ARC trade cover (about 50)
Salem's Lot CD internal office black cover
End of Watch trade cover
The Shining CD proof trade cover (30 copies)
The Shining CD interoffice proof (20 copies, 10 of which were used)
The Shining CD unbound proof (very scarce)
Gwendy's Button Box trade cover (150 copies)
Gwendy's Button Box trade cover with black cutout overlay - VIP edition (20 copies)
Gwendy's Button Box CD trade cover w/o cutout (one known copy)
Sleeping Beauties Scribner trade art cover
Sleeping Beauties 2 volume set (very scarce)
Sleeping Beauties CD interoffice proof (20 copies, 10 of which were actually used)
Sleeping Beauties CD advance uncorrected proof w/verbiage on back (50 copies)
The Outsider blue cover
Misery Suntup Press blue two-color cover very scarce
Elevation blue cover
Night Shift CD interoffice proof with black border pictorial cover
Night Shift CD pictorial cover
The Institute blue cover
Revival Letterpress trade cover
If It Bleeds blue cover
Later trade cover

UK
Carrie tan cover extremely rare
Carrie off-white cover extremely rare
Salem's Lot tan cover extremely rare
Salem's Lot trade cover w/French flaps one known copy
Night Shift white cover w/French flaps
Stand blank white cover w/French flaps
Dead Zone yellow cover
Cujo trade cover
Danse Macabre
Danse Macabre white cover
Firestarter black cover
Firestarter orange cover one known copy
Christine
Pet Semetary blue cover one known copy
Different Seasons gray decorative cover
Eyes of the Dragon white cover
The Talisman pink cover
Thinner blue cover
Skeleton Crew white cover - one known copy
Skeleton Crew partial proof white cover
Cycle of the Werewolf trade cover extremely scarce
It red cover
Misery blue cover
The Tommyknockers
Gunslinger tan cover Sphere extremely rare
The Dark Half trade cover
Dark Tower II Drawing of the Three Sphere pink cover One known copy
Four Past Midnight unbound proof set blue covers one known copy
Four Past Midnight blue cover unbound manuscript extremely rare
The Uncut Stand full proof red cover very rare 33? copies
The Uncut Stand partial proof blue cover
Twice the Power (Needful Things + Secret Window Secret Garden) black cover
Twice the Power (Needful Things + The Langoliers) black cover one known copy
Needful Things blue spiral binding
Gerald’s Game black cover
Dolores Claiborne white/black trade cover
Nightmares and Dreamscapes
Green Mile 1 : The Two Dead Girls white cover 1 known copy
Green Mile 2 : The Mouse on the Mile white cover
Green Mile 3 : Coffey's Hands white cover 1 known copy
Green Mile 4 : The Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix white cover 1 known copy
Green Mile 5 : Night Journey white cover 1 known copy
Green Mile 6 : Coffey on the Mile white cover 1 known copy
Insomnia blue design cover
Bag of Bones holographic cover w/slipcase
Bag of Bones pale green cover
Bag of Bones gray cover
Hearts in Atlantis Light blue cover
Hearts in Atlantis Royal blue cover
Dreamcatcher trade cover modified
Black House partial proof (first 213 pages with cutout white cover)
From a Buick 8 unused trade cover
From a Buick 8 unused trade cover w/sticker
Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla trade cover
Dark Tower V The Return of THE KING promo booklet (very scarce)
Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah trade cover
Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower numbered (up to 100) trade cover ("Limted Edition" misspelled on limitation page)
Dark Tower VII The Dark Tower bound manuscript (1 known copy)
Lisey's Story numbered (up to 100) cardboard slipcased black cover
Lisey's Story numbered (from 100 to 231?) black cover
Lisey's Story unnumbered black cover
Colorado Kid (PS Publishing) white design cover
Blaze trade cover partial proof
Duma Key numbered (up to 150) trade cover
Duma Key special edition (10 copies) from poster contest (I haven't seen this one yet)
Just After Sunset trade cover partial proof
Under the Dome numbered (up to 200) blue/black cover, plastic case
Under the Dome promo booklet (very scarce)
Full Dark, No Stars numbered (77 copies) trade cover
11.22.63 numbered (70 copies?) trade cover
11.22.63 numbered (? copies, "Embargoed" statement on each page) trade cover
Doctor Sleep (150 numbered copies, individually addressed to the recipient) black cover with blue band
Revival (200 numbered copies) black/tan cover with blue band
Finders Keepers (500 numbered copies) trade cover
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams (numbered copies) trade cover
Sleeping Beauties (250 numbered copies) black/blue cover
Gwendy's Button Box SST limited cover (12 copies?)
The Outsider trade red cover (200-250 numbered copies)
The Institute black embossed cover
If It Bleeds trade cover (unknown numbered copies)

John

Please Send Updates, Including Photos/Documentation, to "George at C-Springs"

[Nerak]

Quite impressive list. Now, how many do you own????

[jhanic]

65 US and 32 UK. Just King's books. I also have a goodly number of proofs of anthologies, books about King, etc.

John

[wizardsrainbow]

65 US and 32 UK. Just King's books. I also have a goodly number of proofs of anthologies, books about King, etc.

John

<Wizard kneels humbly before jhanic and hangs his head saying...Master, I am not worthy. >

John- You are the KING of proofs/arcs!!!

[jhanic]

65 US and 32 UK. Just King's books. I also have a goodly number of proofs of anthologies, books about King, etc.

John

<Wizard kneels humbly before jhanic and hangs his head saying...Master, I am not worthy. >

John- You are the KING of proofs/arcs!!!

Not really. There are at least five or more collections out there that are better than mine.

John

[Sir_Boomme]

yes.... john is a leader in the proof dept. (though i might not crown him king as long as bob is a player)

proofs are the weakest part of my collection...and something that i am going to be working on in the upcoming few years.
i only have 54 U.S. titles and a measily 7 UK titles (4 of which i just added thanks to mike aka. pasiuk)
i do have some anthologies and at least 10 duplicates.
acquiring the rest of the list above should keep me busy for years to come...
ps. thanks john for gathering the above list...your kind efforts will be costing me lots of $'s in the future i'm sure

[Matt]

Is there anyway I can use that list and the information on it at the Collectors page? I am hoping to buy/sell information out there.

[jhanic]

Feel free to copy it over there. Could you send me the link, though, so I can keep it up-to-date? It seems I'm continually finding new volumes.

John

[Matt]

It will just be on the collectors page and I am the only one that can put them out there. If you want to post updates in here I can copy them right over.

Is it okay if I put a link to either PM or email you (some might be looking at it without signing up for the forums so email might work for them)

[shnnrc01]

thanks for the list of proofs jhanic.its my next step into the vast world of collecting king.thats one lot of items thats difficult to get a comprehensive list on the internet of.thats a great proof collection you have.good going.thx again barry.

[jhanic]

It will just be on the collectors page and I am the only one that can put them out there. If you want to post updates in here I can copy them right over.

Is it okay if I put a link to either PM or email you (some might be looking at it without signing up for the forums so email might work for them)

No problem. I'd be glad to help whomever needs it!

John

[Erin]

Um..this is going to seem like a dumb question, but what exactly is a proof and what makes it special?

I'm just starting to learn about all this collecting stuff and terminology.

[jhanic]

A proof, or another term is advance reader copy (ARC), or advance galley proof, is usually a trade-paperback sized softcover edition of a book that is sent to reviewers, etc. before the actual publication of that book.

Because these are generally issued in very small numbers and many are actually used for what they were distributed, they are usually fairly hard to find. The largest edition of a King proof that I know of was the US Rose Madder--10,000 copies--where the actual Rose Madder US edition probably had a first edition first printing of more than a million copies.

These volumes represent the actual first printing of the book. One of the major reasons I like getting them is that, especially in the case of my getting the proof before the book is published, I enjoy reading the story before most other people.

There is no single resource that I know of that catalogues these. That's what I'm trying to do. Accurate information on these is usually VERY hard to get. For example, I emailed the UK publisher of Lisey's Story about their proofs. I got a response saying that all their proofs had been numbered, but one that I'm sure of made it out without a number. I've seen the pictures!

Hope this helps!

John

[Erin]

Thanks John! That helped a ton. And that's awesome of you to collect information on all the existing proofs out there.

[Cutter]

The largest edition of a King proof that I know of was the US Rose Madder--10,000 copies--where the actual Rose Madder US edition probably had a first edition first printing of more than a million copies.

1,750,000 copies, First Printing to be exact. lol

These volumes represent the actual first printing of the book. One of the major reasons I like getting them is that, especially in the case of my getting the proof before the book is published, I enjoy reading the story before most other people.

Ouch! this is where you and I differ John. I know you expressed that you do not read your limited editions, and now I am to understand you read the proofs. Whereas I like to read my Limited Editions, but I never read a proof. The fact that they are so fragile, being paperbacks and all keeps me away from reading them. So I guess we are opposites in regards to proofs and limited editions.

One exception was Joe Hill's heart Shaped box, because the guy who gave it to me wanted a response on how I felt about the book. So I had to read it before the hardcover came out.

[jhanic]

I only read the proofs of the upcoming books. When I get a proof of an earlier book, I carefully bag it, etc. I NEVER read a proof if I have a copy of the book itself.

I have read some of my s/l editions, too. I read my s/l of Eyes of the Dragon when it first came out because, at that time, there was no indication that a trade edition would ever be issued. I also read my s/l editions of Six Stories (when it first came out) and The New Lieutenant's Rap, which has never, and probably will never, be issued in any other format. The story always comes first!

John

[Sir_Boomme]

i differ from both of you...i never read my proofs or my limiteds.
and i always buy 2-3 copies of the hardback firsts.... 1 to read...the others to keep as new. (if i have to, i'll wait until a paperback is realeased).
i have mucho patience ad can't see taking the chance on damaging a three to four digit priced book when the same story can be read in a 10.00 to 25.00 version.
yes.... i am that anal about everything

[Matt]

I'm trying to decide what I would do if I had one.

[Randall Flagg]

I'm trying to decide what I would do if I had one.

Just do like a lot of people do-set your wet coffee cup on top of it.

[Matt]

That would totally be a Mt. Dew in my case. Or some iced tea

[jhanic]

Updated to add the color of the cover of the Blaze manuscript proof with $25 on the cover. Thanks for the info, Bob!

See below for latest listing.

John

[Matt]

So are these a list of all proofs that are out there...or are available. Or is this just your collection Jon?

I would love to post it on the page if it is simply a list of all the proofs there ever were.

[jhanic]

I'm trying to make a list of all the proofs that are out there. I do not own all these, but I do have a good majority of them. I'm sure I'm missing some, and I'm also sure that there are errors and omissions above, but it's the best I can do right now.

John

[Matt]

Oh, I think its wonderful.

I was just clarifying the nature of the list in my own mind.

Thanks for posting it out here John

[Pasiuk57]

Boome,

I'm glad you liked the proofs!
I have a lot more for sale too!! Both US and UK.

I have to admit I too do not read the proofs. I too wait for the book to come out to keep them in great shape. I currently have about 137 differnt US proofs and about 45 UK proofs. I'm sure Bob has more!! These are even the ones with King Intros or stories etc in them.