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View Full Version : Full Disclosure: What is the most you ever spent (or would spend) on a King item?



biomieg
10-23-2017, 10:01 AM
I thought this might be a fun idea for a thread :smile: what is the most you ever spent on a single King item? Or what is the most you would spend on a King item if the opportunity presented itself?

I don't keep records, but I paid at least £850 for my first copy of the UK 1st/1st Carrie. The runner-up is probably $750 for the Spring '69 issue of Ubris. I think I could justify paying > $2,000 for a Doubleday proof if the opportunity arose...

Pretty modest compared to what some King items sell for but if you would have asked me ten years ago if I'd ever spend more than 100 bucks on a book I'd have ROFL'ed... :wtf:

webstar1000
10-23-2017, 10:03 AM
$15K on the matching DT set with some other matching numbered s/l's. The problem isn't the amount I send on a King book but rather seeing one the next week I want or need and then it being added to the total I owe. LOL

ur2ndbiggestfan
10-23-2017, 10:55 AM
I think the most I ever spent was the original price of the CD lettered IT or DOCTOR SLEEP, whichever one was the highest.

stroppygoblin
10-23-2017, 11:28 AM
Paul Suntup's rebound IT. (although technically I'm still paying for it) $1,475

I have other books that are now worth more, but that book is my single biggest outlay (so far)

jsmcmullen92
10-23-2017, 11:31 AM
Same with Simon... Rebound IT is the highest followed by a CD S/L IT and portfolio for $1100 a few years ago.

The Library Policeman
10-23-2017, 11:45 AM
$1500.00 each on The Green Mile & ‘Salem’s Lot S/Ls from David@betts. Worth every penny.

Randall Flagg
10-23-2017, 12:17 PM
TRO prevents me from answering the question(s).

Ben Mears
10-23-2017, 12:25 PM
Issue price of Centipede 'Salem's Lot deluxe.

herbertwest
10-23-2017, 01:19 PM
TRO prevents me from answering the question(s).

What does TRO means?

herbertwest
10-23-2017, 01:24 PM
The most expensive book I bought was about 400€, and it was not even for me, but to help a fellow member here

Randall Flagg
10-23-2017, 01:26 PM
TRO prevents me from answering the question(s).

What does TRO means?
Temporary Restraining Order (https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&q=temporary+restraining+order&oq=temporary+&gs_l=psy-ab.1.7.0j0i131k1j0l8.737.5239.0.8369.10.10.0.0.0.0 .146.1045.6j4.10.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.10.1039...46j0i46k1.0.7V6CptOWCAk)

needfulthings
10-23-2017, 01:37 PM
TRO prevents me from answering the question(s).

What does TRO means?
Temporary Restraining Order (https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&q=temporary+restraining+order&oq=temporary+&gs_l=psy-ab.1.7.0j0i131k1j0l8.737.5239.0.8369.10.10.0.0.0.0 .146.1045.6j4.10.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.10.1039...46j0i46k1.0.7V6CptOWCAk)

http://imageshack.com/a/img923/3289/2ZT3As.jpg

bdwyer19
10-23-2017, 01:47 PM
TRO prevents me from answering the question(s).

What does TRO means?
Temporary Restraining Order (https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&q=temporary+restraining+order&oq=temporary+&gs_l=psy-ab.1.7.0j0i131k1j0l8.737.5239.0.8369.10.10.0.0.0.0 .146.1045.6j4.10.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.10.1039...46j0i46k1.0.7V6CptOWCAk)

It means he doesn’t want his wife to find out!!

wizardsrainbow
10-23-2017, 04:07 PM
Most I ever SPENT on a book was $15,000....I knew I was paying WAY over a realistic price, but I had been after this book for more than 15 years, maybe 20.

I do have a couple items in my collection that I think someone might be WILLING to pay more than $15,000, but that is untested water.

zelig
10-23-2017, 04:32 PM
At the peak of my collecting frenzy, I paid $10K for a matching DT set.

ur2ndbiggestfan
10-23-2017, 04:35 PM
You know, I always thought I was crazy, but you guys have totally reassured me of my sanity.

Now where did I put that tinfoil I need for my new hat?

The Library Policeman
10-23-2017, 05:05 PM
The most I HOPE to spend in the future is whatever a Plant set costs. Or a NLR set. Maybe. One day. *sigh*

NeedfulKings
10-23-2017, 07:14 PM
Just over $600 for a 1st/1st Gunslinger. And $475 for CD's Signed Limited edition of IT. Pretty modest, I would say. :)

Brian861
10-23-2017, 08:13 PM
$900 for a F/F 1st/1st Gunslinger. Pretty sure I sold it to a member here when I had to gut my collection.

jhanic
10-24-2017, 03:42 AM
My most expensive item was The Green Mile #6 proof.

John

frik
10-24-2017, 03:55 AM
Mine must have been the PS Publishing Thinner (lettered).
I think the upcoming 'Salem's Lot was about the same.

sk

shaq
10-24-2017, 04:47 AM
The Stand s/l from David.

Present to myself after leaving my job of 28 years.

Kingfan24
10-24-2017, 05:34 AM
$1400 on the stand s/l from Betts.

surly
10-24-2017, 07:14 AM
I don't know if this counts but I was theoretically the owner of an asbestos FIRESTARTER for a few, brief shining moments, which I was willing to pay over $14,000 for. Alas it did not work out quite the way I expected.
The story is here (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?226-Intriguing-Stephen-King-King-Related-Dark-Tower-Auctions-Sales&p=657237&viewfull=1#post657237) as a cautionary tale on the dangers of ebay for anyone interested.

jsmcmullen92
10-24-2017, 07:23 AM
I don't know if this counts but I was theoretically the owner of an asbestos FIRESTARTER for a few, brief shining moments, which I was willing to pay over $14,000 for. Alas it did not work out quite the way I expected.
The story is here (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?226-Intriguing-Stephen-King-King-Related-Dark-Tower-Auctions-Sales&p=657237&viewfull=1#post657237) as a cautionary tale on the dangers of ebay for anyone interested.

You are telling me that the ORIGINAL cover art that you own was cheaper than a lettered Fire-starter? If that's the case then I would just stick with the art...

surly
10-24-2017, 07:26 AM
I don't know if this counts but I was theoretically the owner of an asbestos FIRESTARTER for a few, brief shining moments, which I was willing to pay over $14,000 for. Alas it did not work out quite the way I expected.
The story is here (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?226-Intriguing-Stephen-King-King-Related-Dark-Tower-Auctions-Sales&p=657237&viewfull=1#post657237) as a cautionary tale on the dangers of ebay for anyone interested.

You are telling me that the ORIGINAL cover art that you own was cheaper than a lettered Fire-starter? If that's the case then I would just stick with the art...

Haha. All Im saying is that I was willing to pay $14K on something that didn't work out once.

ICry4Oy
10-24-2017, 07:43 AM
Paul Suntup's rebound IT......


Same here.

webstar1000
10-24-2017, 07:48 AM
I was ready to drop $25K on a King item... I did whatever I could to try and come up with the money (it was art.. Whelan) and at that time it was $35'ish Canadian and that was just too far out of my reach. I had to pass. I don't regret it to be honest.. but think on it often.

T-Dogz_AK47
10-24-2017, 09:11 AM
I was ready to drop $25K on a King item... I did whatever I could to try and come up with the money (it was art.. Whelan) and at that time it was $35'ish Canadian and that was just too far out of my reach. I had to pass. I don't regret it to be honest.. but think on it often.

What did Whelan produce that is worth $25k? :o

webstar1000
10-24-2017, 09:15 AM
I was ready to drop $25K on a King item... I did whatever I could to try and come up with the money (it was art.. Whelan) and at that time it was $35'ish Canadian and that was just too far out of my reach. I had to pass. I don't regret it to be honest.. but think on it often.

What did Whelan produce that is worth $25k? [emoji5]

He has produced works more than that dude. I know many people who have paid over $40k US for his large originals. Some here on our very boards. Not to mention, works from the original Gunslinger book (Bob had 3!) are worth much more.... but I would be hesitant to say exactly how much... but will say much more. So yes... many works over $25k... MANY.

EDIT: and I’m only talking King related.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

swintek
10-24-2017, 09:21 AM
Issue price of Centipede 'Salem's Lot deluxe.

Ditto! Think it was $900.. or $950.. Then I spent about $100 Fed Ex-ing both it and my copy of the numbered edition back to the bindery to fix some fairly major issues. Both came back perfect, though, thankfully.

becca69
10-24-2017, 10:44 AM
$1500 on a DT7 Whelan original published ink drawing (which I don't get until Christmas).

I would spend $7K on a lettered Regulators if I could.

Hunchback Jack
10-24-2017, 11:58 AM
The most I've paid for any single King item is $800 for a Grant DT II S/L.

(My incomplete matching DT S/L set was more in total, of course, but less than $800 per volume)

Notable mention is a Gunslinger 1/1 in shrinkwrap, for which I paid $500 about 15 years ago - more *by far* than I'd spent on a book until then, and for many years thereafter.

HBJ

Starkraven7
10-24-2017, 01:28 PM
$750 for a signed and annotated End of Watch won through Owen's recent auction. Still worth it! I'm definitely a sucker for an auction.

Room 217 Caretaker
10-24-2017, 02:40 PM
Honestly, I haven't spent a penny of my money (I secretly use my wife's she just doesn't know it yet)......oh....... hi honey, I didn't see you standing behind me.....hey, what are you doing with that knife...........

needfulthings
10-24-2017, 03:15 PM
Speaking of the wife....Mine spent 2K (The most spent on any published book in my collection) for this....
http://imageshack.com/a/img922/9674/8iYcS6.jpg

surly
10-24-2017, 04:24 PM
Tell her to drop me a line if she would like to double her money.

needfulthings
10-24-2017, 05:03 PM
:panic: Anyone have a cure for a woman who is suffering from hysterical laughter?

peripheral
10-24-2017, 09:24 PM
My DT Matching number set, same price as Kris $15k.

Next, my PS Lettered Thinner at issue price.

Ari_Racing
10-25-2017, 02:05 PM
$1800 for The Stand S/L

amd013
10-25-2017, 08:59 PM
11K for a DT matching set, but I returned it a couple of weeks latter due to undisclosed defects.

$3800 for The Stand Lettered
$3800 for Skeleton Crew Lettered (from Betts recently)

Most I would spend would be 12-13K for a DT matching set.

RC65
10-26-2017, 09:35 AM
$1800 for The Stand S/L

I keep telling myself that someday I'll spring for that edition @ $2K'ish, but I doubt I ever will. The most I've ever spent on a King item is $350...so it would take going waayy out of my comfort zone to go for it. I can afford it, but I guess my King mania is not extreme enough for me to justify it. Still though...some days the Want is worse than others, so who knows...

Ari_Racing
10-26-2017, 09:44 AM
Back in 2003 I said I'd never spend more than $40 in a book. Then the next year Grant Books announced the pack of Black House+The Talisman gift+The Dark Tower 7 Artist for $165, and I said "Well...it's a little more but not that much". But when I saw their quality I thought "Well...I could buy a couple of gift editions". Desperation arrived 3 months later. Then Insomnia. And what a fool I'd be if I don't buy that gift edition of From a Buick 8 for $65!" And now I have DT7 Artist but I don't have 5 or 6, and I need them. But no matter what, I'd not buy a signed copy. $200 dollars is way too much."

And here I am, 15 years later, 80 books signed by King, almost 800 King books and a full room for his works.

Tommy
10-26-2017, 09:48 AM
Rebound IT and before that, Rebound Firestarter. I could not afford either one without the installments (Thanks Paul!). The most I've ever spent in one payment would be Cemetery Dance's S/L of Sleeping Beauties

webstar1000
10-26-2017, 09:56 AM
I can say this... all I have spent... has been worth it. The joy I get from getting a rare book is just... extremely exhilarating!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

RC65
10-26-2017, 10:30 AM
Back in 2003 I said I'd never spend more than $40 in a book. Then the next year Grant Books announced the pack of Black House+The Talisman gift+The Dark Tower 7 Artist for $165, and I said "Well...it's a little more but not that much". But when I saw their quality I thought "Well...I could buy a couple of gift editions". Desperation arrived 3 months later. Then Insomnia. And what a fool I'd be if I don't buy that gift edition of From a Buick 8 for $65!" And now I have DT7 Artist but I don't have 5 or 6, and I need them. But no matter what, I'd not buy a signed copy. $200 dollars is way too much."

And here I am, 15 years later, 80 books signed by King, almost 800 King books and a full room for his works.

Yeah, I sure get that... but I've been doing this book thing now for thirty years, so my budgetary parameters are pretty well fixed and not likely to move. I have spent more than that $350 aforementioned price tag -- several times, in fact -- but it wasn't on a King book…I'm afraid I just don't read or collect him with the passion that many others here do ( which doesn't diminish my desire for the s/l of THE STAND, though, that's for sure :-)).

Starkraven7
10-26-2017, 01:54 PM
I can say this... all I have spent... has been worth it. The joy I get from getting a rare book is just... extremely exhilarating!!!

I say Amen to that!!!

sentinel
10-26-2017, 04:23 PM
Back in 2003 I said I'd never spend more than $40 in a book. Then the next year Grant Books announced the pack of Black House+The Talisman gift+The Dark Tower 7 Artist for $165, and I said "Well...it's a little more but not that much". But when I saw their quality I thought "Well...I could buy a couple of gift editions". Desperation arrived 3 months later. Then Insomnia. And what a fool I'd be if I don't buy that gift edition of From a Buick 8 for $65!" And now I have DT7 Artist but I don't have 5 or 6, and I need them. But no matter what, I'd not buy a signed copy. $200 dollars is way too much."

And here I am, 15 years later, 80 books signed by King, almost 800 King books and a full room for his works.

It's OK Ari, 30 years ago I wanted HB's of each book, then I discovered short stories in magazines, then I won some lotteries for signed limiteds, then I 'needed' a copy of every book signed, then
lettered copies and rareties... and here I am with 450+ signed items and over 4000 King related items! It is an addiction! I call it "Friends of SK"

Patrick
10-27-2017, 02:42 PM
While my mostly-complete set of DT books would be the most expensive taken as a whole, the most I've paid for a single novel is the coffin/bible S/L of The Stand.

playdohman
11-02-2017, 02:54 PM
So far, the CD Sleeping Beauties lettered $2,500 and Gwendy's Button Box lettered, $1,750. Before these two I had not spent over $1000 on any one single book.

picontin
11-19-2017, 11:29 AM
IT S/L 25th Anniversary Edition (CD), altough I got it for a good price ($600).
But next year The Stand coffin S/L will beat this one:arg:

Sir_Boomme
11-19-2017, 01:59 PM
I spent $16,000.00+ once...
and over $7000.00 way too many times.

lotuz
11-19-2017, 04:18 PM
The most I've ever spent so far is the list price for the Sleeping Beauty and Gwendy's Botton Box S/L numbereds. Had a chance to buy the lettereds and probably should have :pullhair: But SK is not my main collection and that money gets me some other firsts and S/L that I would not be able to get otherwise (or at least that's how I justify it to myself...)

I found out about Suntup too late and was only able to get a numbered art portfolio. I would happily pay handsomely above list for the rebound editions, especially It, because they are just gorgeous books no matter who you collect. I'm on the wait list but who knows how far down and if I'll ever get a chance to get one... Maybe I'll make it in time for The Stand but maybe I'll just wander around for decades trying to find people willing to give them up. I'm assuming no one would part with their rebounds unless they were truly desperate...

stroppygoblin
11-19-2017, 04:41 PM
The most I've ever spent so far is the list price for the Sleeping Beauty and Gwendy's Botton Box S/L numbereds. Had a chance to buy the lettereds and probably should have :pullhair: But SK is not my main collection and that money gets me some other firsts and S/L that I would not be able to get otherwise (or at least that's how I justify it to myself...)

I found out about Suntup too late and was only able to get a numbered art portfolio. I would happily pay handsomely above list for the rebound editions, especially It, because they are just gorgeous books no matter who you collect. I'm on the wait list but who knows how far down and if I'll ever get a chance to get one... Maybe I'll make it in time for The Stand but maybe I'll just wander around for decades trying to find people willing to give them up. I'm assuming no one would part with their rebounds unless they were truly desperate...

I think you will need to be thinking waaaay above list. 2 copies of EOTD have already exchanged hands @ 3x the original price and 1 copy of Fire-starter was sold for 2 x original price. I would expect at least double issue as well for IT.

(Little) Supply and (Big) Demand...

webstar1000
11-19-2017, 04:44 PM
The most I've ever spent so far is the list price for the Sleeping Beauty and Gwendy's Botton Box S/L numbereds. Had a chance to buy the lettereds and probably should have :pullhair: But SK is not my main collection and that money gets me some other firsts and S/L that I would not be able to get otherwise (or at least that's how I justify it to myself...)

I found out about Suntup too late and was only able to get a numbered art portfolio. I would happily pay handsomely above list for the rebound editions, especially It, because they are just gorgeous books no matter who you collect. I'm on the wait list but who knows how far down and if I'll ever get a chance to get one... Maybe I'll make it in time for The Stand but maybe I'll just wander around for decades trying to find people willing to give them up. I'm assuming no one would part with their rebounds unless they were truly desperate...

I think you will need to be thinking waaaay above list. 2 copies of EOTD have already exchanged hands @ 3x the original price and 1 copy of Fire-starter was sold for 2 x original price. I would expect at least double issue as well for IT.

(Little) Supply and (Big) Demand...

I totally agree. I know of a solid $3000 offer for IT from someone. I see it going as high as $4k.


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lotuz
11-19-2017, 05:04 PM
Wow - I didn't know that...! I was thinking 1.5x, maybe 2x...

I very much want a copy of It!! Good to know that 2x-3x is to be expected...

I can honestly say that I want it more than I want any other King book that I know about (which is a big caveat).

Since my collecting habit matured, I've wanted to get in at the beginning of a small, awesome press. I'm very sad that I missed Dragon Rebound! Not as sad as I am that I missed Centipede Press (by about a decade, so...).

And I barely missed the lettereds for Suntup Editions, about which I am cranky, but I secured my standard S/L number (#52) for the numbereds.

Johnny007
11-23-2017, 02:39 PM
I spent $16,000.00+ once...
and over $7000.00 way too many times.

Terry,

If you spent $7K "way too many times" on SK items, I would guess that you made very good investments. I think I know what your $16K purchase (CC sale?) was and I think it's awesome!!! You've got some great and important items. And that doesn't even include your Gremlin!!

John

Johnny007
11-24-2017, 10:32 AM
I initially thought this was a great topic (and I still do) but then I thought it may be seen as a way "one-upping" another collector or that collector's financial status. Inadvertently as this may happen, as I stated before, I still think this is a cool thread. In my mind, it tells us how far we've gone to get that "must-have" SK item. This behavior usually expands subtlety and without much thought. I am very guilty of that. It feeds my "addiction" and I think it's a trait of all of us true collectors.

I had a super opportunity a few years ago to buy a 1st state 'Salem's Lot. I liquidated most of my proof collection and paid >$50K to buy that rarity. I'm pretty sure I know where the other 4 copies reside and I'm pretty sure 3 of them are not for sale. By the way, the copy that is available for sale right now is relatively cheap (probably because of condition) compared to a couple of others that have changed hands within the last couple of years.