Stephen King first editions
Stephen King first editions run from a few dollars for recent bestsellers to thousands for Carrie, ’Salem’s Lot, The Shining and The Stand in their first printings. Below is every King edition we value, with what a copy is worth by condition and signature, and the points that tell a true first printing from a later printing or a book club copy.
What Stephen King first editions are worth
Every Stephen King edition we value, most valuable first. Unsigned is a copy at its best valued grade.
| Edition | How to identify it | Unsigned | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrie Doubleday, 1974 · First print | Copyright page: First Edition as the last line, under "Printed in the United States of America". | $5,003 | $9,742 |
| Night Shift Doubleday, 1978 · First print | Copyright page: FIRST EDITION as the last line, under "Printed in the United States of America". | $4,140 | — |
| The Gunslinger Grant, 1982 · First | Copyright page: "Printed in the United States of America / First Edition", two ISBNs (ISBN 0-937986-50-X Trade Edition and ISBN 0-937986-51-8 Deluxe Edition)… | $3,843 | $7,935 |
| Salems Lot Doubleday, 1975 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Edition” stated, under “Printed in the United States of America” | $3,750 | $12,075 |
| The Shining Doubleday, 1977 · First print | Copyright page: FIRST EDITION as the last line, under "PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". | $3,220 | $4,725 |
| The Stand Doubleday, 1978 · First print | Copyright page: "Copyright © 1978 by Stephen King / All Rights Reserved / Printed in the United States of America / First Edition". | $2,795 | $7,360 |
| The Bachman Books NAL Books, 1985 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First (Omnibus) Printing, October, 1985” with the full number line “1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9” (lowest number 1) | $1,099 | — |
| The Gunslinger Grant, 1982 · Second | — | $750 | — |
| Cycle Of The Werewolf The Land of Enchantment, 1983 · First print | Binding: brown leatherette boards, with CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF by STEPHEN KING stamped in gilt on the front board. | $747 | $1,159 |
| The Dead Zone Signet, 1980 · First print | Front cover: light blue printed wraps with Advance Reading Copy at the top and This is an uncorrected galley proof. near the foot, above the Signet and NAL… | $518 | — |
| From a Buick 8 Cemetery Dance, 2002 · First print | Copyright page: "Cemetery Dance Publications Edition 2002 / ISBN 1-58767-061-5", the number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and First Edition as the last line. | $516 | $1,973 |
| Thinner NAL Books, 1984 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Printing, November, 1984” and the number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 | $497 | — |
| The Dark Tower IV: Wizard & Glass Donald M. Grant, 1997 · First print | Copyright page: two ISBNs (Signed Deluxe Edition ISBN 1-880418-37-1 and Trade Edition ISBN 1-880418-38-X), then "First Edition" above "Donald M. Grant… | $325 | $2,328 |
| The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands Donald M. Grant, 1991 · First print | Copyright page: FIRST EDITION above "Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc. / Hampton Falls, New Hampshire". | $285 | $1,581 |
| The Dark Tower II: The Drawing Of The Three Donald M. Grant, 1987 · First print | Copyright page: FIRST EDITION under the two ISBN lines (Deluxe Edition — ISBN 0-937986-90-9 / Trade Edition — ISBN 0-937986-91-7), above "Donald M. Grant… | $265 | $2,588 |
| The Dead Zone Macdonald and Jane's, 1979 · First print | Copyright page: “First published in Great Britain in 1979 by Macdonald General Books” as the only printing statement, below “A Raven Book”. | $192 | — |
| Pet Sematary Doubleday, 1983 · First print | Copyright page: FIRST EDITION as the last line, under "Printed in the United States of America". | $163 | $3,278 |
| Danse Macabre Everest House, 1981 · First print | Copyright page: the code RRD281 on the last line, under "Designed by Abe Lerner". | $145 | $2,355 |
| The Dead Zone Viking, 1979 · First print | Copyright page: "First published in 1979 by The Viking Press" followed by the address 625 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y 10022, with no number line on the page. | $138 | $1,323 |
| IT Viking, 1986 · First print | Copyright page: "First published in 1986 by Viking Penguin Inc." / "Published simultaneously in Canada", and Set in Garamond No. 3 as the last line of the… | $107 | $2,952 |
| Different Seasons Viking, 1982 · First print | Copyright page: "First published in 1982 by The Viking Press / 625 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10022", then "Published simultaneously in Canada by Penguin… | $76 | $2,254 |
| On Writing Scribner, 2000 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: number line “1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2” (the full line, with the 1) | $76 | — |
| Cujo Viking, 1981 · First print | Copyright page: First published in 1981 by The Viking Press / 625 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10022, with no printing number line on the page. | $69 | $864 |
| Gerald's Game Viking, 1992 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First published in 1992 by Viking Penguin” with the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (the “1” must be present) | $64 | $1,104 |
| Christine Viking, 1983 · First print | Copyright page: "First published in 1983 by The Viking Press / 40 West 23rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10010", then "Published simultaneously in Canada by Penguin… | $63 | $2,233 |
| Skeleton Crew Putnam, 1985 · First print | Copyright page: Printed in the United States of America with the full number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 beneath it, starting at 1. | $52 | $3,278 |
| Firestarter Viking, 1980 · First print | Copyright page: "First published in 1980 by The Viking Press / 625 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10022", and "A limited first edition of this book has been… | $50 | $791 |
| The Eyes of the Dragon Viking, 1987 · First print | Copyright page: "First published in 1987 by Viking Penguin Inc." as the only printing statement, followed by "Published simultaneously in Canada". | $46 | $2,445 |
| Misery Viking, 1987 · First print | Copyright page: "First published in 1987 by Viking Penguin Inc." as the only printing statement. | $35 | $2,847 |
| 11/22/63 Scribner, 2011 · First print | Copyright page: "First Scribner hardcover edition November 2011" and the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, including the 1. | $33 | $1,771 |
| Billy Summers Scribner, 2021 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition August 2021” with the full number line “1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2” (the 1 must be present) | $32 | $229 |
| The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon Little Simon, 2004 · First print | Back cover, lower left: First Edition 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, running down to 1, followed by "First Little Simon pop-up edition 2004." | $30 | $1,288 |
| Just After Sunset Scribner, 2008 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition November 2008” with the full number line “1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2” (the 1 present) | $30 | $1,251 |
| Mr. Mercedes Scribner, 2014 · First print | Copyright page: "First Scribner hardcover edition June 2014" and the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, running down to 1. | $30 | — |
| The Tommyknockers Putnam, 1987 · First print | Copyright page: the full number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 under "Printed in the United States of America", starting at 1. | $29 | $805 |
| Cell Scribner, 2006 · First print | Copyright page: the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, including the 1, under "Manufactured in the United States of America". | $28 | $297 |
| Finders Keepers Scribner, 2015 · First print | Copyright page: First Scribner hardcover edition June 2015 and the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, including the 1. | $25 | $922 |
| Song of Susannah Donald M. Grant / Scribner, 2004 · First print | Copyright page: FIRST TRADE EDITION and the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, with the 1 present. | $25 | — |
| Needful Things Viking, 1991 · First print | Copyright page: "First published in 1991 by Viking Penguin, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc." and the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, with the 1 present. | $24 | $1,371 |
| Everything's Eventual Scribner, 2002 · First print | Copyright page: the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, including the 1, under "Manufactured in the United States of America". | $24 | $459 |
| Four Past Midnight Viking, 1990 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First published in 1990 by Viking Penguin” above the full number line “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1” (with the 1) | $23 | $226 |
| Under The Dome Scribner, 2009 · First print | Copyright page: "First Scribner hardcover edition November 2009" and the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, running down to 1. | $22 | $1,090 |
| Black House Random House, 2001 · First trade edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Trade Edition” stated, with the number line 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 (Random House firsts start at 2) | $22 | $230 |
| Nightmares & Dreamscapes Viking, 1993 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First published in 1993 by Viking Penguin” and the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 | $22 | $1,635 |
| The Outsider Scribner, 2018 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition May 2018” with the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 | $22 | — |
| Holly Scribner, 2023 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition September 2023” and the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (down to 1) | $21 | $1,104 |
| Duma Key Scribner, 2008 · First US edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition January 2008” with the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (the 1 must be present) | $21 | $397 |
| Bag Of Bones Scribner, 1998 · Advance Reader's Copy · Uncorrected Proof | Front wrapper: the band ADVANCE READER'S COPY • NOT FOR SALE along the foot, under the trade jacket's screaming-face artwork. | $21 | $740 |
| Fairy Tale Scribner, 2022 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition September 2022” with the full number line “1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2” — the line must run down to 1 | $20 | — |
| The Institute Scribner, 2019 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition September 2019” with the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (the “1” present) | $20 | $1,795 |
| Hearts in Atlantis Scribner, 1999 · First print | Copyright page: the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, including the 1, under "Manufactured in the United States of America". | $20 | $370 |
| End of Watch Scribner, 2016 · First US edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition June 2016” and the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, running down to 1. | $20 | $759 |
| Desperation Viking, 1996 · First print | Copyright page: First published in 1996 by Viking Penguin, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc. and the full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, running down to… | $20 | $567 |
| If It Bleeds Scribner, 2020 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition May 2020” with the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (the “1” must be present) | $19 | $575 |
| Bag Of Bones Scribner, 1998 · First print | Copyright page: the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, running down to 1. | $19 | $1,635 |
| The Dark Half Viking, 1989 · First print | Copyright page: "First published in 1989 by Viking Penguin, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc." and the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, running down to… | $18 | $1,507 |
| From a Buick 8 Scribner, 2002 · First print | Copyright page: the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, running down to 1. | $16 | $501 |
| Dolores Claiborne Viking, 1993 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First published in 1993 by Viking Penguin” above the full number line “1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2” (with the 1) | $16 | $966 |
| Revival Scribner, 2014 · First print | Copyright page: "First Scribner hardcover edition November 2014" and the number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2, with the 1 present. | $15 | — |
| The Bazaar of Bad Dreams Scribner, 2015 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition November 2015” with the full number line “1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2” (down to 1) | $15 | — |
| The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla Donald M. Grant / Scribner, 2003 · First trade edition, first printing | Copyright page: FIRST TRADE EDITION below the ISBN 1-880418-56-8, with the full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 under "Printed in the United States of… | $15 | $1,932 |
| Never Flinch Scribner, 2025 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition May 2025” | $15 | — |
| Full Dark, No Stars Scribner, 2010 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition November 2010” with the full number line “1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2” (the 1 present) | $15 | $673 |
| Elevation Scribner, 2018 · First edition, first printing | Copyright page: “First Scribner hardcover edition October 2018” with the full number line “1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2” (down to 1) | $12 | — |
| Firestarter Phantasia Press, 1980 · First print | Limitation page (at the back of the book): "This first edition of Firestarter by Stephen King is limited to seven hundred twenty-five copies, all of which have… | — | $3,696 |
| Under The Dome Hodder & Stoughton, 2009 · First UK edition · Signed limited, 500 copies | Limitation page: "This signed edition of Under the Dome by Stephen King, including a set of 27 trading cards by the artist Matthew Diffee, for Waterstone's, is… | — | $2,157 |
| The Shining Subterranean Press, 2013 · Signed limited, 750 copies | Limitation page: numbered 1–750, signed by Stephen King and by the illustrator Vincent Chong | — | $2,024 |
| Feast of Fear Underwood-Miller, 1989 · First print | Limitation page: “This deluxe edition of FEAST OF FEAR is limited to 600 copies, of which 550 have been numbered, 24 have been stamped “Presentation Copy” for… | — | $86 |
How to identify a Stephen King first edition
- The Doubleday books (Carrie, ’Salem’s Lot, The Shining, Night Shift, The Stand and Pet Sematary) say “First Edition” on the copyright page. A copy without that statement is a later printing or a book club edition.
- From the 1980s on, Viking, Putnam and Scribner use a number line on the copyright page. A first printing has the lowest number, usually a 1, still in the line; the 1 is dropped for each new printing.
- Book club editions are the most common look-alike. They usually have no price on the dust jacket flap, are a little smaller, and often have a small blind stamp on the back board.
- The dust jacket counts for much of the value: check that its price matches the first printing’s, and that it is the first-state jacket where a book had more than one.
- Each edition page below lists the exact points for that book.
Common questions
- What are the most valuable Stephen King first editions?
- Carrie (first print, about $5,003 unsigned), Night Shift (first print, about $4,140 unsigned), The Gunslinger (first, about $3,843 unsigned). Values are as of October 2026, from recorded sales.
- How do I know if my Stephen King book is a first edition?
- The Doubleday books (Carrie, ’Salem’s Lot, The Shining, Night Shift, The Stand and Pet Sematary) say “First Edition” on the copyright page. A copy without that statement is a later printing or a book club edition. From the 1980s on, Viking, Putnam and Scribner use a number line on the copyright page. A first printing has the lowest number, usually a 1, still in the line; the 1 is dropped for each new printing. Book club editions are the most common look-alike. They usually have no price on the dust jacket flap, are a little smaller, and often have a small blind stamp on the back board.
- Can I sell a Stephen King first edition to BBourse?
- Yes. We value the exact copy from recorded sales and make a firm cash offer, free and with no obligation to sell.
Selling a Stephen King first edition? We value the exact copy and make a firm cash offer. Get an offer.