This has possibly got to be one of the more expensive (and heaviest) books I’ve ever bought…but it was worth it!
Released across the US on September 15th 1986, the initial print of this classic, which was possibly the most expensive book for it time at $22.95, surpassed the demand expectations of its publisher, Viking. Bold as they were with the initial run for a book so large (1138 pages), our of the released 800,000 First Edition copies, 400,000 were a First Print. The remaining copies were divided between an additional four runs of varying quantities to keep up with demand.
Values for these First Edition First Prints today can vary greatly due to recent popularity and despite the following runs being ‘rarer’, the prior remain the heavier sought copy. A common quote I have seen ranges between $200-$300 but there have been a more extreme quote of $1k in places. Regardless, like anything of this nature, the defining factor will always boil down to the condition and authenticity. This is something that I try not to get into, but colour me curious.
Have you figured out the book yet?
It’s a popular title, with adaptations including a miniseries featuring Tim Curry appearing in the 90’s, two feature films and more recently, talks of a prequel in the works with HBO. Yep, you guessed it, Stephen King’s ‘IT’!
Unable to shift my love of the circus, it made an impact on my childhood love for horror, and that’s why, when I stumbled across a First Edition First Print copy of ‘IT’, I tried, but couldn’t resist buying it.
Now this copy is hardly going to pay for my retirement. It is a little unloved. It’s edges wave an air of damp storage and its pages are speckled in places – something a collector or trader would be wary of – but not me. These factors have meant it’s found it’s way to me and like little Georgie running down the street beside his paper ship in the rain, I’ve grasped the opportunity to own a piece of history and read ‘IT’ for it’s originality.
I bought the damned book!
