Hey, everybody. I've been trying to compile a list of the different printings of the Doubleday first editions. Eventually (late '87 or early '88), Doubleday started putting a number line on the copyright page. I've seen first editions of Carrie with a price of $16.95 and a 10th printing number line, a 13th printing of 'Salem's Lot ($19.95), and a 11th printing of Night Shift ($17.95), etc. So I figure if I keep logging the different prices/gutter codes I run across, I'll eventually be able to fill in all the gaps between the first printings and those later printings.
I know this is all a super inexact science. Especially given the way people sometimes swap dust jackets, but I think with enough data, I should at least be able to get a pretty good idea. And I'm hoping maybe you all can help me fill in missing bits, correct things that aren't right, etc.
Here's what I have so far:
NI = no number line or gutter code indicator
Carrie
(unofficial list)
Gutter Code Price Printing P6 5.95 1 V8 7.95 2 W16 10.95 3 Y45 12.95 4 Z16 13.95 5 Z46 14.95 6 AA42 15.95 7 BB1 15.95 8 NI 16.95 9 16.95 10 17.95 11 *The 13th printing appears to have two DJ states, one with the title laid out horizontally and a more common one with the title turned 90Ί and running down the spine, which was then used going forward.
Phiesen 13*, 2 Holdorf 3+
'Salem's Lot
(unofficial working list; blank lines are only guesses )
Gutter Code Price Printing Q37 8.95/7.95 1 Q41 7.95 T42 8.95 U48 9.95 V40 11.95 Y38 14.95 Z22 15.95 Z? 16.95 AA37 16.95 BB1 17.95 CC36 18.95 19.95 13 19.95 14
Phiesen 15-17 Holdorf 18+
The Shining
(unofficial working list; blank lines are only guesses )
Gutter Code Price Printing R49 8.95 1 S3 8.95 S10 8.95 S14 8.95 Z10 14.95 Z32 15.95 Z46 16.95 AA29 18.95 AA48 18.95 CC25 19.95 NI 19.95 19.95 13
Phiesen 14-16 Holdorf 17+
Night Shift
(unofficial working list; blank lines are only guesses )
Gutter Code Price Printing S52 8.95 1 T? 8.95 U18 8.95 Z? 14.95 AA9 15.95 BB? 15.95 CC15 16.95 NI 17.95 17.95 11 18.95 12
Phiesen 13-15? Holdorf 16?+
The Stand
(unofficial working list; blank lines are only guesses )
Gutter Code Price Printing T39 12.95 1 T51 12.95 Y29 15.95 Z5 17.95 Z20 17.95 Z46 18.95 AA29 19.95 AA48 19.95 BB50 19.95 CC32 19.95 NI 19.95 19.95 13 21.95 14
Uncut 1-9 Holdorf 9+
Pet Sematary
(unofficial working list; blank lines are only guesses )
Gutter Code Price Printing Y38 15.95 1 Y39? 15.95 Y43 15.95 Y45 15.95 Y46 15.95 Y49 15.95 17.95 19.95 10 19.95 11 21.95 12 21.95 13
Holdorf 14-15
I've added blank lines where I think missing printings are likely to be, but a lot of that is just guess work at this point.
For whatever reason, the biggest gaps seem to be between S-T and Y-Z ('77-'78 and '83-'84). I don't know if there was something going on in those years or just fewer copies being printed or what. Or maybe they didn't print anything for a while after he left for Viking? I don't know. But for several of the books, as you can see, there's a big jump in the middle from $8.95 to $14.95 where either there weren't many copies or I just haven't seen them.
Anyway, I know this is information many people probably don't care about, but I just think it would be neat to know.
I'd especially love to know if anyone has a copy of The Shining or Pet Sematary with a number line, because those are two I haven't come across yet, and without end points, I'm not even sure how many different printings I'm looking for.I finally found examples for both of these.