Regulators, The - S/L

Title:	The Regulators
Author:	Richard Bachman
Artist:	Toy Box cover: Alan M. Clark Book interior: Stephen Gervais
Publisher:	Dutton
ISBN:	0-525-94224-6
Publication Year:	1996
State:	Signed Numbered 1/500
Issue Price:	$325
Comments:	500 Numbered, 52 lettered, at least 2 prototypes (one lettered, one numbered), 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


Promo blurb for the book:
Like its evil twin, The Regulators was released in a limited edition as well. The book, spawned in the heart of the unformed, was "boxed" in fake Motokops 2000 toy box and limited to 500 numbered copies and 52 lettered (A-ZZ) copies.

Publisher's Description:
The text has been printed on Mohawk Vellum and the illustrations on Lustro Dull. The "late Richard Bachman’s" signature (as signed by Stephen King) is on a fictitious canceled check which has been mounted on the first page of the book. Each check has been individually numbered or lettered and made out to a different fictional recipient referred to in a Stephen King story. [Five hundred] numbered copies have been hand bound in red German Iris linen with a silver stamped black Morocco leather inlay on the front board. The book is housed in a custom made toy box bound in black German Iris linen with a mounted full color illustrated top and a black silk pull.

Text and images provided by Randall Flagg