Thank you Brian, Garrell, Kris and Mike. Some encouraging comments on the importance of the Signed 1st Edition over the Signed Limited / Lettered.
However you interpret my thoughts on this, rest assured I still collect Limited books, they are of huge importance in any collecting world. Nonetheless it has to be considered that other authors who, by their age, never were afforded the opportunity of being part of a Limited edition. Tolkien for instance, as far as I know, never produced a signed edition, only the deluxe edition of Lord of the Rings in 1963, prior to his passing in the early seventies. Regardless of this he is collected on a global scale with only the normal editions as collectibles. All of these are sought after and fetch an exorbitant price especially with his signature. I only use Tolkien as an example as I collect the author and am reasonably familiar with his work.
Moving forward to present day, we recently witnessed the frenzy to obtain Limited and Lettered copies of ‘Later’, sold at very reasonable prices, with the strong possibility of huge rewards on the secondary market. It is exactly the same book in both cases, as was Joyland, the only difference with the Lettered, a pretty mundane tray case. These will eventually move on to fetch around $4,000 each. Now moving to the 1st edition, a paperback, how much more importance would a signed one of these hold. King has actually handled the book and the signature completes and verifies that fact. Yet it would initially only command a modest price in comparison to the Lettered. We are forced to wait inordinate lengths of time, in some cases many years, with our money paid, to receive a book where King has flipped through 26/52 sheets to be inserted by the publisher. Admitted you may obtain some art unseen in other copies, though in the majority of cases I can comfortably live without these. Of recent date I purchased a copy of ‘Hope and Miracles’, a lettered edition of 52 copies selling at between $3,000 - $4,000. Never have I spent money so ill advised and so disappointed in the final outcome, a cheap, nasty edition, promising the earth pre-publication and yet delivering nothing. Grant should be ashamed. Yet to obtain a signature on one of the lesser copies, in my eyes, raises it to much higher levels.
So my perception of the signed 1st versus the Limited/Lettered could go on, though I appreciate you have probably heard enough.
I have to state that it is only my opinion, my own observation and I fully understand anyone thinking my ideas do not hold water. To that I can only say I own all the limiteds and all the lettereds except one. So whose the fool?
Nevertheless long live the signed 1st.
(It may be asked, the only lettered I do not own is ‘The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon’).