Comments for: Building the King Catalog

Title: ‘Salem’s Lot
Author: Stephen King
Artist: Jerry Uelsmann Designed by Jerad Walters
Publisher: Centipede Press
Publication Year: 2004
State: Traycased Signed Numbered 1/25 Issue Price?
Comments: A Massive book- Weighing over 13 pounds, and over a foot tall. Bound in black Goatskin and printed on mouldmade Sanders Waterford paper, housed in a traycase of Japanese cotton. Deleted scenes from the original manuscript to “Salem’s Lot are included. 25 Roman numeral “lettered” editions, bound in Goatskin and housed in a traycase were produced.

Title: The New Lieutenant's Rap
Author: Stephen King
Artist: Designed by Michael Alpert
Publisher: Philtrum
Publication Year: 1999
State: Chapbook.Signed 1/500 Issue price-Free
Comments: King's small press published the book to distribute as keepsakes at a party of approximately 108 guests to celebrate King's silver anniversary in book publishing (at The Tavern on The Green in New York City, April 6, 1999). One of four stories that comprised "Hearts in Atlantis". The book is written in King's own hand.
At the party at each place setting was a copy of the book, a printed envelope stamped with peace symbols and a chain with a peace emblem attached. Also given out were signed second printings of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and a four page 25 question King trivia quiz.
Reportedly, approximately 28-42 copies were left on the table and thrown out by staff that night. None were recovered from trash. Stephen was so disgusted that drunk guests did this, that he took the remaining 380+ copies and placed them in his office safe in Bangor, where they remain to this day. 24 copies of an unsigned proof state having a form letter from Michael Alpert also exist.

Title: Skeleton Crew
Author: Stephen King
Artist: J.K. Potter
Publisher: Scream Press
Publication Year: 1985
State: Publishers Personal "Check" Copy 1/1 Not for sale.
Comments: Bound in Goatskin, A single "check copy" bears the handwritten legend "This is Jeff Connor's personal Check Copy/One signature was reprinted, and the poster reprinted as well./This is a one of one edition hand bound./In goat skin in Santa Cruz for promotional use /Jeff Connor Publisher."

One of the most visually striking King books. Scream Press underestimated production costs and instead of making a name for themselves, went bankrupt.

Title: The Regulators
Author: Richard Bachman
Artist: Toy Box cover: Alan M. Clark Book interior: Stephen Gervais
Publisher: Dutton
Publication Year: 1996
State: Lettered 1/52 Issue Price $1,500
Comments:
500 Numbered, 52 lettered, at least 2 lettered prototypes, and approximately 51 “Presentation” copies were produced. Sold by Penguin books (subsidiary of Dutton) via telephone, on a first come first serve basis on 10/08/1996, with a limit of 1 per person. Few knew that you could not only order a numbered copy, but a lettered copy via phone also. Lettered copies had 30-30 cartridges which protruded from the front and back book covers.
Peter Schneider-engineer for the limited edition of The Stand, was the principal architect for this edition, aided by Joe Stefko (of Charnel House, a small press).
Well into the project Schneider brought up the matter of the limitation sheets with King. King responded: “Bachman was dead, so how could he sign books?”
The solution was elegantly simple: Insert dummy checks signed by the writer, which in Bachman’s case meant Stephen King as Bachman. King signed all the checks and on at least one occasion signed as Stephen King instead of Bachman.
Checks 1-399 were written by Schneider himself and featured various amounts and reference notes. Notes referred to characters, businesses etc. in previous King books. Starting at check 400, Peter’s wide assisted. Some amounts and notes were duplicated.
A review of the list of Lettered copies reveals real life publishers, book stores, authors etc. EX: JJ-Betts Bookstore, PP-Harlan Ellison.
For information on Numbered editions: http://www.yoda.arachsys.com/sk/cheques.html

The Lettered featured the following:
Hand sewn
Hand bound in brown Morocco leather and Winchester 30 caliber bullets
The spine has the title and author’s name blind stamped wet to look like it was branded
The endleaves are of hand made and colored paste paper
The book is housed in a hand made faux-ammunition box covered in wood veneer with gold stamping on the side

Title: Firestarter
Author: Stephen King
Artist: Michael Whelan
Publisher: Phantasia Press
Publication Year: 1980
State: Signed Lettered 1/26. Issue Price $300
Comments: Stephen King's first Signed Limited book The "asbestos bound" Lettered state is considered to be the scarcest SK collectible. This being King's first limited edition, he was unaware of tradition and dated the limitation pages over a four day period starting July 5th.

Well folks, other than The Plant and possibly a production prototype of The Regulators, that should be it.