Collecting Rules

Every collector has their own "thing" that they like to chase down.  Most of us love first editions.  But, as you collect,  you have to develop some rules, or you'll create a giant pile of stuff that will lead to a divorce or an eviction.

So I used to buy anything with King's name on it.  Now. . .

1. First edition hardbacks of books pre Duma Key.  So that means book club editions are out.  I used to hold on to them; but they're really only worth about $5, and it can get confusing in a collection to keep up with which ones are true firsts, and which ones are reproductions and book club editions.  Truth is, after Duma Key, the market seems so flooded with first editions, they don't really matter.  Besides, I stopped buying them because I know someone in my family is sure to give me the latest Stephen King novel.

When it comes to some rarebooks, second editions will have to do.  Such is the case with The Gunslinger, which is hard to find as a first edition, but hte second edition has the same cover and is almost identical.

2. Post Duma Key, special editions are preferred.  A signed copy of Under The Dome, the Cemetery Dance edition of Doctor Sleep and Full Dark No Stars are all good options.  When a new King book comes out, usually a specialty publisher will secure the rights to do something really cool with the book.  Donald M. Grant has "artist" editions of the Dark Tower books that are pretty cool.

3. No books on tape.  The tape days were great, but they're worthless.  Two exceptions: The original reading of The Stand and The Mist.  As the Mist can only be obtained in tape format, and The Stand in its 1978 format only exists on tape.

In general, audio books have no value.  So get them to listen to, not to collect.   I recommend a subscription to audible, which will give you the new release at midnight.

4. Toys --  not.  Sorry, but I read books, I don't really collect a lot of Stephen King toys.  I don't need a Pennywise -- whatever.  I do have a toy Christine; but I don't really "get it."  I mean, it's blue. . .

5. Red Leather editions are also out.  I have some, but I stopped collecting them because they're not that special.  yeah, it's bound red leather; but so what?  There are no special introductions, no pictures, nothing that makes the  book itself more desirable.  They don't even look that cool on the shelf.

6. No book cover -- no sale.  The book cover is part of the book, and that said, I want my books to have their covers!  I've thrown out more than one copy of the mid eighties novels because they didn't have a book cover.  Is a copy of Different Seasons without its cover valuable?  Not really.

7. Old magazines -- OH YEAH!  In the late seventies and early eighties, Stephen King was everywhere.  His stories could be found in detective magazines and, well, porn.  I don't buy the porn because . . . you know why.  But there is a LOT of stuff out there.  People magazine, Time, Disney, magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and so much more.  Even TV guide with a King article is pretty cool.  In fact, it's fun to get these old magazines and get a sense of time warp.

8. Books by King's family members are not really collectible's to me.  I don't seek first editions.  I've read some stuff by Joe Hill, and liked it a lot.  But I don't collect Hill, I read him.

9. Anything signed by King negates all other complaints.  Do I take books with no covers?  No.  Unless it's signed by King!  However, I actually prefer signatures that fans got from King as opposed to "flat signed" copies.  I know, most collectors prefer the flat signed, but I don't see the point.  If King wrote a fans name and a little note to them in the book, that makes it a little more personal.  It's connected to someone.

The mass flat signing that happens today is just a cold grab for money on the publishers part.  For the most part, I have no interest in slapping down lots of my savings to grab a book that was flat signed.

10. Bachman books are good, so long as they have Bachman's name on them, not King's.  This means  finding old paperbacks.  By the way, the bookclub edition of Thinner with Bachman's name is worth about $5.  But find Rage, Roadwork or The Long Walk as paperbacks, and you're in business.

Tell me some of your collecting rules.