The *declining* Stephen King Market

[webstar1000]

Just think of it as a 'free' lesson in Grammar, Kris

Back on topic now please gentlemen....

I get the feeling the S/L Coffin Case Stand is starting to pick up again in price, $1800 - $2000 seems quite common now. Is this an all time high or has it peaked higher previously?

You know I did a little looking and I think your right Simon. I was under the impression it was around $1800... but I think it has researched the $2k mark and beyond. I was surprised. Thankfully I have one. I paid $1500 for mine if I member correctly... King collectables are most defiantly on the rise!

PS: Worst part? I have spell check.. and still make mistakes! LOL

[bdwyer19]

Just think of it as a 'free' lesson in Grammar, Kris

Back on topic now please gentlemen....

I get the feeling the S/L Coffin Case Stand is starting to pick up again in price, $1800 - $2000 seems quite common now. Is this an all time high or has it peaked higher previously?

You know I did a little looking and I think your right Simon. I was under the impression it was around $1800... but I think it has researched the $2k mark and beyond. I was surprised. Thankfully I have one. I paid $1500 for mine if I member correctly... King collectables are most defiantly on the rise!

PS: Worst part? I have spell check.. and still make mistakes! LOL

They're 'defiantly' on the rise? Don't you mean 'definitely'???

Sorry Kris!!

[webstar1000]

Just think of it as a 'free' lesson in Grammar, Kris

Back on topic now please gentlemen....

I get the feeling the S/L Coffin Case Stand is starting to pick up again in price, $1800 - $2000 seems quite common now. Is this an all time high or has it peaked higher previously?

You know I did a little looking and I think your right Simon. I was under the impression it was around $1800... but I think it has researched the $2k mark and beyond. I was surprised. Thankfully I have one. I paid $1500 for mine if I member correctly... King collectables are most defiantly on the rise!

PS: Worst part? I have spell check.. and still make mistakes! LOL

They're 'defiantly' on the rise? Don't you mean 'definitely'???

Sorry Kris!!

THANKS BRIAN! lol Man, I donated $30 yesterday thinking it would last me a few days. AND IT'S GONE! I might have to not post for a bit... or I will be in the poor house! lol

[Merlin1958]

Just think of it as a 'free' lesson in Grammar, Kris

Back on topic now please gentlemen....

I get the feeling the S/L Coffin Case Stand is starting to pick up again in price, $1800 - $2000 seems quite common now. Is this an all time high or has it peaked higher previously?

You know I did a little looking and I think your right Simon. I was under the impression it was around $1800... but I think it has researched the $2k mark and beyond. I was surprised. Thankfully I have one. I paid $1500 for mine if I member correctly... King collectables are most defiantly on the rise!

PS: Worst part? I have spell check.. and still make mistakes! LOL

They're 'defiantly' on the rise? Don't you mean 'definitely'???

Sorry Kris!!

THANKS BRIAN! lol Man, I donated $30 yesterday thinking it would last me a few days. AND IT'S GONE! I might have to not post for a bit... or I will be in the poor house! lol

Cough it up, my man!!! LOL

[Beverly Marsh]

While I'm here...
I imagine this has been brought up before and if so if someone wants to direct me to the discussion please do.

Where do you think the book market, specifically King, is heading? It seems like most, not all, of us on here are of a "certain age" I'm 43. Are younger generations going to continue the collecting bug? Will they want limited editions and all of the output that seems to be happening at the moment?
David wrote about this and I had a chat with Gerald. Both see it continuing. Gerald mentioned that Japan seems to be taking a sudden turn towards this market.
Obviously we have people here that have been collecting for many many, years and started when they were um, a little younger.
Just curious as to what your thoughts are on this.

[webstar1000]

The market is growing by leaps and bounds. I see no sign of slowing.... the amount some books have jumped in the last two years blows me away. I LOVE it and have no intention of stopping. I just turned 40... Someone told me once not to play the stock market... said to buy artwork and signed limited books. Smartest move you can make he said... I tend to agree since my books/art is doing 25 times better than my stock portfolio. LOL

[ur2ndbiggestfan]

I wish I was 43. Or 40.

[Beverly Marsh]

The market is growing by leaps and bounds. I see no sign of slowing.... the amount some books have jumped in the last two years blows me away. I LOVE it and have no intention of stopping. I just turned 40... Someone told me once not to play the stock market... said to buy artwork and signed limited books. Smartest move you can make he said... I tend to agree since my books/art is doing 25 times better than my stock portfolio. LOL

Lol, definitely good advice!

The book market is doing fantastic right now with seemingly no end in sight. However, do you guys think it's people of our generation keeping it going or are younger people, say 20's 30's getting in on the action?

[webstar1000]

People always start late.... no one could afford this in the 20's!


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[HONKYTONKSMASH]

The market is growing by leaps and bounds. I see no sign of slowing.... the amount some books have jumped in the last two years blows me away. I LOVE it and have no intention of stopping. I just turned 40... Someone told me once not to play the stock market... said to buy artwork and signed limited books. Smartest move you can make he said... I tend to agree since my books/art is doing 25 times better than my stock portfolio. LOL

Lol, definitely good advice!

The book market is doing fantastic right now with seemingly no end in sight. However, do you guys think it's people of our generation keeping it going or are younger people, say 20's 30's getting in on the action?

Well ive been definitely getting in on the action haha. Im really intrigued to see how the market will grow. Lately its been doing really well as has been mentioned. Most of my collection has done really well since i started collecting 3-4 years ago. Itll really come down to if a younger generation gets the collecting bug or not. Most serious collectors are an older generation for sure so we shall see


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[HONKYTONKSMASH]

People always start late.... no one could afford this in the 20's!


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Haha tell me about it


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[Fsmdr]

My dilemma. I recently moved and apparently the area I live in my collectible insurance won't cover flood damage. They won't give it to me because of the "risk." Nothing got damaged but it is about the future "maybes." I have amassed a nice collection, so if there is another hurricane, I would have to take everything with me just in case. Many King books aren't that valuable. You know, the many novels of high volume print runs like Cell, Lisey's Story, Insomnia, etc. Many firsts that don't hold weight, but take up space so to speak. Some of his newer novels, CD makes a great slipcase for them which raises their value, but most seem to not care when it comes to resell.

I have been kicking around the idea that attempting to become a completion-ist collector, financially and space wise, will be improbable for me personally. I have also been thinking since I have Insomnia S/L and the gift edition, that the other first edition isn't worth having around as the value is nil (as an example of many of King's books). But, there are some valuable normal trade editions like It, Firestarter, Shining, Carrie, etc that are worth obviously holding onto and collecting.

What would you do? Is there a cut off for normal trade hardbacks to not collect based on value down the road? Am I over thinking this and should hold onto everything even though many trade hardbacks are worth just 10.00 bucks? Is there a timeline that collectors stop collecting? Are there people out there that only collect lettered, S/L, and gift editions only, but own some first editions that end with It or Misery or a certain period? Any thoughts and hindsight would be great!

I do know some collectors collect only what they love (certain books or stories). But being a horror fan of one of the greatest writers that I admire, I'd buy the bad stories simply because of who King is and what he represents to the horror genre.

I look at my growing collection and wonder what I got myself into.

I love and I have to have 1st edition 1st printing (Flatsigned by King) of all of Kings books. That is my "poor mans" collection, many of them have been with me since my teenage years.

I love my s/L books. getting them at sale price makes me think how I wish I was collecting as long as others on this site. Imagine (like many members here) buying Six Stories, The STand, etc... at issue price! Some here bought several copies!

I wish I would have stopped at these two categories. I made the mistake of collecting the doubleday years from CD and anniversary editions of PS publishing --- I could live without these budget draining collections. But I already have them....

I wishi I did not start collecting all the first appearances, but I got them too....

My point is, its your collection and your rules.... 1st editions 1st printings take up one entire Billy book shelf,

I DO NOT COLLECT for value based on what is going to happen down the road.... Look at Beanie Babies, Precious Moments, Bill Cosby collectables, you do not know what is going to happen. Collect what you love and be happy with what you got.... Make your own rules.....

If I could look back, I wish I had not collected the comics as well! Those Variant editions never ends.

[jsmcmullen92]

People always start late.... no one could afford this in the 20's!


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I'm in my 20's. I definitely live within my means but I still have a few of those "Big" items. I originally got into it for the long term gain in price. Kinda like Kris said I figured I could do better buying a #1 author's limited books rather than playing my luck with Stocks. Now I am in because I thoroughly enjoy it and find each book to be a piece of art in itself.
With that siad I have a feeling the market will boom when King passes (look at MJ and David Bowie) but I feel like it may lose some value over time. Certain books like IT, Salems Lot, and The Stand may hold value but most I think will drop off after the initial boom.

[allasorte]

People always start late.... no one could afford this in the 20's!


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I'm in my 20's. I definitely live within my means but I still have a few of those "Big" items. I originally got into it for the long term gain in price. Kinda like Kris said I figured I could do better buying a #1 author's limited books rather than playing my luck with Stocks. Now I am in because I thoroughly enjoy it and find each book to be a piece of art in itself.
With that siad I have a feeling the market will boom when King passes (look at MJ and David Bowie) but I feel like it may lose some value over time. Certain books like IT, Salems Lot, and The Stand may hold value but most I think will drop off after the initial boom.

I think so too, but I feel S/L and limited print run books will hold strong regardless of the content....from King. Not all authors would be as lucky though. I'm sure when the economy went bad other editions or lesser known writers and even art may have and did take a hit. King is different though. He has been around for decades, his name is known, he has tons of adaptations for his books, and he is relevant for keeping the horror genre alive. Recent;y it has been horror movies, but I hope people understand what I am saying.

[Bev Vincent]

I started in my early twenties -- it began with The Gunslinger. Then I agonized over buying the trade or the signed edition of The Talisman from Grant. By the time I sprang for the Scream Press edition of Skeleton Crew and Cycle of the Werewolf, I was hooked.

[allasorte]

@Beverly Marsh. What you are doing is what I have been thinking about for over a year. Have the S/L and gift edition of Desperation.....what is the point of having the much lesser 1st/1st with variant dust jackets. Having the more collectible BCE slipcase Lisey's Story only, and not the trade 1st. But, keeping both variations of Easton press Dead Zones and the trade first because of the low print run. I have been thinking about this for some time. Shrinking the collection but adding the "better" books.

Then again, making your own rules too like Brian mentioned. For me it is not only because of the almost disaster, but also the space needed for when other books are coming that are clearly more expensive. It is obviously the hobby and the collecting that is most enjoyable, but it is also if you needed money and need to turn an investment. I don't think anyone here would buy a S/L Carrie and read a thousand dollar book. Would they?!

[HONKYTONKSMASH]

Im also in my 20's. The whole market surge after his passing will be fool's gold..wont last. I got into it because I love the collecting, the hunt, and the author. Monetary value means very little to me personally. It's cool if they go up in value and all, but that's not why I do it. Like I said, it will be intriguing to see what happens with the collecting market but its not like many in this generation are knocking down the collecting door. Time will tell

[webstar1000]

Im also in my 20's. The whole market surge after his passing will be fool's gold..wont last. I got into it because I love the collecting, the hunt, and the author. Monetary value means very little to me personally. It's cool if they go up in value and all, but that's not why I do it. Like I said, it will be intriguing to see what happens with the collecting market but its not like many in this generation are knocking down the collecting door. Time will tell

I think they are though.. we just do not see it. I am on a few Facebook groups where they are young and are after hardbacks and 1sts. To them a gift edition is a big purchase. I sold about 30 of them there in a couple days start of the year... why so easy? Cause they can afford them. Post a S/L? Not a bite.. nothing... I believe that these younger people will start to get older, get better incomes and then still collect... and what comes next with more money? Better and rarer books. Hey I could be wrong but it seems to me that they are hungary for books and are a new generation coming up. Lets hope the IT and DT movies are really good and get even more interested

[HONKYTONKSMASH]

Im also in my 20's. The whole market surge after his passing will be fool's gold..wont last. I got into it because I love the collecting, the hunt, and the author. Monetary value means very little to me personally. It's cool if they go up in value and all, but that's not why I do it. Like I said, it will be intriguing to see what happens with the collecting market but its not like many in this generation are knocking down the collecting door. Time will tell

I think they are though.. we just do not see it. I am on a few Facebook groups where they are young and are after hardbacks and 1sts. To them a gift edition is a big purchase. I sold about 30 of them there in a couple days start of the year... why so easy? Cause they can afford them. Post a S/L? Not a bite.. nothing... I believe that these younger people will start to get older, get better incomes and then still collect... and what comes next with more money? Better and rarer books. Hey I could be wrong but it seems to me that they are hungary for books and are a new generation coming up. Lets hope the IT and DT movies are really good and get even more interested

I hope so man. Movie success wouldn't hurt

[Room 217 Caretaker]

The discussion of collector generations; older, middle, younger, etc. reminds me of a story I started to write sometime ago after a weird dream I had. For the record, I'm in the much older generation collecting group here. Anyway, here's a little snip it of the goofy story:

The Day We Lose our King

The day we lose our King (Stephen King that is) will be a dark day indeed. For the older generation of King collectors (you know who you are) it will turn into a nightmare so horrifying that you will begin to believe that King wrote it as his final book.

At first, the younger King fan generation will be in denial of the death announcement, but once discovered the news to be true, the denial will soon turn to anger, greed, and total anarchy.

The younger collectors, through violent actions, over powers the existing government to become the new governing body of The Lands (formally called USA). First order of business, compile a database of elder King collectors names and addresses for the purpose of rounding them up for final processing.

The governing body knows this won’t be an easy task, rounding up the elders, so they create lies to make the elders feel comfortable with the idea of moving to a new governing body facility providing a safe place to live, thrive, and most importantly, a place to store and protect their beloved rare King books.

The lies begin to work, the elders fear what The Lands have become so they begin the process of packing their rare books up in hopes of a safe place to live.

Let the final processing begin.


I know, goofy. Now back to the discussion with normal people.

Mulleins

[HONKYTONKSMASH]

The discussion of collector generations; older, middle, younger, etc. reminds me of a story I started to write sometime ago after a weird dream I had. For the record, I'm in the much older generation collecting group here. Anyway, here's a little snip it of the goofy story:

The Day We Lose our King

The day we lose our King (Stephen King that is) will be a dark day indeed. For the older generation of King collectors (you know who you are) it will turn into a nightmare so horrifying that you will begin to believe that King wrote it as his final book.

At first, the younger King fan generation will be in denial of the death announcement, but once discovered the news to be true, the denial will soon turn to anger, greed, and total anarchy.

The younger collectors, through violent actions, over powers the existing government to become the new governing body of The Lands (formally called USA). First order of business, compile a database of elder King collectors names and addresses for the purpose of rounding them up for final processing.

The governing body knows this won’t be an easy task, rounding up the elders, so they create lies to make the elders feel comfortable with the idea of moving to a new governing body facility providing a safe place to live, thrive, and most importantly, a place to store and protect their beloved rare King books.

The lies begin to work, the elders fear what The Lands have become so they begin the process of packing their rare books up in hopes of a safe place to live.

This is awesome

[peripheral]

I think there's a lot of factors that push or pull the value here. Paper is a dying industry - no doubt. But there are pockets that are bucking this trend, and books are an example of this. Massive initial drop in sales with eBooks, and then a plateau around 2013 and small reverse/stabilising in the last 1-2 years. (How this will last is anyone's guess). This is in contrast to DVDs and CDs which continue to drop in the face of digital. Then there's this "collector's gene". I just turned 40 and I've always been a collector since I was a kid - stamps, coins, novelty erasers (!), Masters of the Universe, Star Wars, Ltd Edition CD and Movie releases, pop artwork, now books (a story i bet is familiar to many here, in different ways - maybe not the novelty erasers). This "collecting" mentality is fostered at a young age - getting three different Han Solos because of his outfits! I see this in my kids now and they're under 5. And I think King is a certain icon in pop culture that has mass appeal, so high demand for his stuff. I like Kris's idea, that when those with collectors genes get older with more disposable $$ flow, they grab the "books" (more accurately describes as artworks - which is how we treat them). While I collect primarily for interest, I also want to know I'm not kissing the kids' inheritance away.

Anyway, this is an interesting topic. I'd be interested to hear the thoughts from some more of the other longer term canon collectors here...

[webstar1000]

I think there's a lot of factors that push or pull the value here. Paper is a dying industry - no doubt. But there are pockets that are bucking this trend, and books are an example of this. Massive initial drop in sales with eBooks, and then a plateau around 2013 and small reverse/stabilising in the last 1-2 years. (How this will last is anyone's guess). This is in contrast to DVDs and CDs which continue to drop in the face of digital. Then there's this "collector's gene". I just turned 40 and I've always been a collector since I was a kid - stamps, coins, novelty erasers (!), Masters of the Universe, Star Wars, Ltd Edition CD and Movie releases, pop artwork, now books (a story i bet is familiar to many here, in different ways - maybe not the novelty erasers). This "collecting" mentality is fostered at a young age - getting three different Han Solos because of his outfits! I see this in my kids now and they're under 5. And I think King is a certain icon in pop culture that has mass appeal, so high demand for his stuff. I like Kris's idea, that when those with collectors genes get older with more disposable $$ flow, they grab the "books" (more accurately describes as artworks - which is how we treat them). While I collect primarily for interest, I also want to know I'm not kissing the kids' inheritance away.

Anyway, this is an interesting topic. I'd be interested to hear the thoughts from some more of the other longer term canon collectors here...

Totally disagree with paper being a dying industry. Where it is now... is where it will stay. I am in this industry and can attest to this fact by the numbers. It was dying up until about 2010. It has stabilized. The biggest threat to small print Houses now is online printing. Vista Print for instance did 2.2 billion last year in the US alone. My numbers in my little store are now only affected by people like them... nothing else. I agree with the rest though. hahaha just my 2 cents on that

[peripheral]

That's reassuring to know Kris - especially for my poor kid's inheritance!

[needfulthings]

I think there's a lot of factors that push or pull the value here. Paper is a dying industry - no doubt. But there are pockets that are bucking this trend, and books are an example of this. Massive initial drop in sales with eBooks, and then a plateau around 2013 and small reverse/stabilising in the last 1-2 years. (How this will last is anyone's guess). This is in contrast to DVDs and CDs which continue to drop in the face of digital. Then there's this "collector's gene". I just turned 40 and I've always been a collector since I was a kid - stamps, coins, novelty erasers (!), Masters of the Universe, Star Wars, Ltd Edition CD and Movie releases, pop artwork, now books (a story i bet is familiar to many here, in different ways - maybe not the novelty erasers). This "collecting" mentality is fostered at a young age - getting three different Han Solos because of his outfits! I see this in my kids now and they're under 5. And I think King is a certain icon in pop culture that has mass appeal, so high demand for his stuff. I like Kris's idea, that when those with collectors genes get older with more disposable $$ flow, they grab the "books" (more accurately describes as artworks - which is how we treat them). While I collect primarily for interest, I also want to know I'm not kissing the kids' inheritance away.

Anyway, this is an interesting topic. I'd be interested to hear the thoughts from some more of the other longer term canon collectors here...

Totally disagree with paper being a dying industry. Where it is now... is where it will stay. I am in this industry and can attest to this fact by the numbers. It was dying up until about 2010. It has stabilized. The biggest threat to small print Houses now is online printing. Vista Print for instance did 2.2 billion last year in the US alone. My numbers in my little store are now only affected by people like them... nothing else. I agree with the rest though. hahaha just my 2 cents on that

That's why Video Watchdog just filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy after 27 years & 183 issues...Because the paper industry is doing so well.