HOW TO: Recondition The Stand S/L Case

[Randall Flagg]

I posted this years ago on Dt.net.:

Several months ago I bought a signed limited copy of The Stand. I purchased the book at a reduced price knowing the coffin box was damaged. The book itself was in excellent shape but the box had several problems.

#1. There is a raised edge on the bottom box that surrounds the red lining. One edge was damaged and had been completely removed by a previous owner. Here is a photo of two boxes side by side to show the missing edge:




#2. The side of the lid had been damaged and poorly repaired. I neglected to get a before shot, but here are photos of the restoration in progress:












#3. The Brass plaque affixing the lid had been scratched and possibly previously removed.


Before I continue, a little history on The Stand:
In 1977 King and Doubleday were negotiating a new contract. King offered his next three novels (already completed) to Doubleday execs for $3.5 million. William Thompson-King’s editor at Doubleday urged the execs to accept Kings offer. The execs countered with a $3 million dollar offer. The incensed King rejected the offer and thus signed with NAL for his asking price. NAL backsold the rights to the hardbacks to Viking.
Shortly after Kings defection, Doubleday fired Bill Thompson. The job of editing The Stand was given to another editor. With no future relationship at hand Doubleday demanded that King cut the 1,600 page manuscript by at least 250 pages so as to keep the retail price down. King was furious but had to live up to his contract.
Early on with Doubleday; King-in order to save on taxes, had signed an agreement to have Doubleday invest his money earned and pay him a yearly “salary” of $50,00 per year. By 1983 millions had accrued in his fund. King asked to end the investment and liquidate the fund. King himself had no agent when the agreement was negotiated and was unaware the agreement had no exit clause. Doubleday pointed this fact out but mentioned they could be persuaded to end the agreement if King gave them one more novel.
Talked out of suing, King gave Doubleday the previously finished but unpublished Pet Sematary.
In Pet Sematary the list of King’s works mentioned a little known book called The Gunslinger-published by Donald M Grant. Thus DMG was brought into the spotlight and would go on to publish-over the course of the next 22+ years the following 6 DarkTower books.
In 1990 King-along with the previously hated Doubleday published The Stand: The complete and Uncut Edition. King got to have one of his best loved works published as he intended. Doubleday decided to release a limited version of the book. 1,000 numbered and 52 lettered copies were decided upon. After most of the limiteds were presold, (retail price $325) Walden’s and Barnes & Noble insisted they each wanted 125 copies. King signed the additional 250 signature pages thus bringing the total to 1,250 numbered editions.
Oversized, bound in black goatskin and engraved with a latticework of gilt, the book came in a black wooden coffin box that was lined with red satin. Affixed to the lid was a brass plaque. The 1st state of the plaque was brass in color with black lettering. The actual plaque decided upon and used was black faced with the engraving revealing the brass beneath.

On with the repair/restoration story:
I shipped the box to a friend who had done quality woodwork fabrication for me before. He used to live nearby but had moved to Alaska. He proceeded to fabricate and install the missing edge as well as repair the side of the lid. The repair of the lid necessitated that the box be repainted. Unfortunately he chose to use a black that was glossier than the original box was. The original is really a flat black. In addition he was reticent to remove the brass plaque. As a result; the several coats of paint he used actually were thick enough to rise up almost equal in height to the plaque (he had taped the plaque off). Additionally the thick paint obscured the wood grain evident in the coffin boxes. I wasn’t thrilled with the pictures he sent me that showed the glossy paint but he was my only choice for the repair.


He let the box dry indoors several days then wrapped it up and shipped it back to me. Upon opening the packaged I was shocked. The material he had wrapped the box with had made imprints into the box itself! I considered the box ruined.

Ruined Box:





Upon speaking to my friend he recommended lightly sanding the box with 600 emery cloth then using 0000 steel wool to remove the imprints and reduce the shine to a flat black. After several attempts I still wasn’t happy. At this point I considered the box a loss. Since I was desperate; I removed the plaque and lining and brought the box to a professional furniture re-finisher. I had used the man previously to refinish an antique wood piece for my wife. He doesn’t do repairs, but the refinishing job he had done for me was top notch.
The man took the box with no promises as to the result. Only two days later he called me and said “she’s done”! WOW! The guy pulled it off. The box was flat black again; a perfect match and I could once again see the wood grain in the box as it was intended.
Here is the refinished box (without plaque) beside another original box:



Now I only had the problem of the plaque. Mine was damaged. Mostly scratched but certainly not mint. I checked with about 10 different trophy engravers in my area and none could duplicate the font from the original plaque. The font itself is a replication of the font on the cover of the book. No one had that font. Finally I came upon an engraver who was also a graphic artist. Using an image scanned from my plaque as well as a photo of the book cover, he recreated by hand-and computer the original font. I had him make not only a black faced plaque, but a replication of the 1st state brass plate plaque that I could only find for >$60 from a collectible bookseller. Needless to say I spent far less than $60 per plaque. The only other issue I have is the original plaques have either oxidized over time or the stock was different and therefore the brass itself is darker on the original than the black faced replications I have. The color is close but just a bit off. At this point since I have the original anyway I plan on leaving the lid without a plaque attached and if I ever sell the book I can offer the buyer their choice of plaques.



What an adventure this has been.
Here is a picture of the repaired box with the 1st state plaque and all three plaques placed upon it: