Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$2950.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Copyright and introduction both dated 1970. Also at copyright page are thanks to: "The Classes of 1934, '72, and '73." Stiff white pictorial wraps, light cover, corner wear, moderate cover, corner wear, toning, discoloration. Front cover features a rather unique design entitled "Man Dropping a Bird" by Diane McPherson. Interestingly, the visage in this cover art has a resemblance to Stephen King. Pages near fine with attractive toning; no writing. Bind fine, firm, square. Sharp, near fine rarity. This is the first appearance in book form of three poems by "Steve" King, pre-dating any commercial printing of his work. The most noteworthy contribution is the "The Dark Man," genesis of his sprawling epic series "The Dark Tower". The second poem "Donovan's Brain," was inspired by the Curt Siodmak novel, and movie of the same name. (Interestingly, this sci-fi/horror story of an evil disembodied brain influencing lab scientists was produced in two full-length 1953 and 1962 versions, each directed by Felix Feist. The first version is considered better. The 1953 film co-stars Nancy Reagan.) SK's third piece is entitled "Silence". Rare historical anthology from a baker's dozen who attended a university seminar on poetry in 1968 and thereafter met regularly to read and discuss their work. This collection evolved out of this seminar at the University of Maine, where King was a student. In SK's autobiographical book "On Writing" he describes falling in love with Tabitha during this very workshop and details the event and milieu thereafter in some depth. King wrote other poems and stories for literary magazines before he was published commercially, but this anthology represents the most significant example and also the confluence of several important individuals in his later life and career. Michael Alpert, who penned the opening three poems, later worked with SK as co-founder of Philtrum Press, where he designed and composed the type for "The Plant," and the limited editions of "The Eyes of the Dragon," and "Six Stories". All contributors include: J. J. Bishop (Introduction); Michael Alpert; Susan Lienhard; Dave Lyon; Diane McPherson (Poems and Cover Design); Steve King; Bruce Holsapple; Stephen Black; Mike Gilleland; Jim Smith; S. Holden Dresser; Tabitha Spruce; George MacLeod; and, Jean Stewart. Apprx. 75 pages. Insured post. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall
Seller: The BiblioFile, Rapid River, MI, U.S.A.
Stephen King, Tabitha Spruce. Moth (The Dark Man, etc.). The Blanket Conspiracy, 1970.
Price: US$24995.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Signed by Stephen King and former book owner and fellow Maine author Sanford Phippen. VG+. ONE OF ONLY A FEW SIGNED COPIES KNOWN AND ONLY A FEW DOZEN KNOWN UNSIGNED COPIES. ***THIS IS THE RAREST OF STEPHEN KING BOOK PUBLICATIONS AND 1 OF ONLY A FEW KNOWN SIGNED COPIES.*** Three copies can be found at institutions by WorldCat. Provenance: This copy was once owned by author Sanford Phippen who, like King, is a graduate of the University of Maine and fellow Maine-based published author. He has signed the book on the inside front cover.I have sold Stephen King books for over a decade. I have sold some of the rarest of Kings works. This is rarer than The Plant (signed copies sell between $20k-30k), lettered limited edition sets, and even a signed copy of Rage (sells for up to $30k). There are only five or six known unclipped TRUE first state dust jackets of Salems Lot and they used to sell with first edition copies for $40,000 - $50,000 TEN YEARS AGO before Kings book prices skyrocketed in value and before being snatched up and hoarded away by prominent King collectors. A signed copy of Moth is *possibly* just as rare or even rarer than these legendary unclipped true first state Salem Lot copies! To give one example, in the past 16 years I cannot find a single example of a signed copy of Moth having ever been sold on eBay, until I recently snatched this one up. Keep in mind, Stephen King no longer signs his older work. Since there are only a few known signed copies that have come to market, and perhaps a few more unknown signed copies being hoarded away by top King collectors (whose copy you wont get get until they are long gone!), a mere handful of signed copies is possibly all there ever is and will be . Beyond scarcity, this is one of the most important publications featuring Stephen King for several reasons: 1. It is the first published writing of The Dark Man in book form, Kings most important canonical poem and the genesis of his most famous villain featured in The Stand (Randall Flagg) and The Dark Tower series (The Man in Black/Walter oDim, etc.). If you want the true first iteration of both Kings masterpiece The Stand & Kings Magnum OpusThe Dark Tower seriesthe singular poem that started it all, this is it! 2. While King had been initially published in 1965 in Comics Review and in a few magazines in the late 1960s and his college newspaper, this is Kings first significant publication of fictional works in book form (three poems). This poetry anthology predates Carrie by four years. 3. Moth is the culminating publication from a University of Maine student poetry seminar from 1968-69 where King states he fell in love with Tabitha Spruce (see Stephen Kings On Writing), now Tabitha King of course. Tabitha has several poems also published in the anthology. If they hadnt met, where would Stephen King be today? Would Carrie have ever been written let alone published? It was Tabitha, after all, who famously rescued a partial draft from the trash and urged King to finish it and seek publication. Other items of note: 4. Michael Alpert, who penned the opening three poems, later worked with King as co-founder of Philtrum Press, where he designed and composed the type for "The Plant," and the limited editions of "The Eyes of the Dragon," and "Six Stories". Published in 1970: MOTH with Stephen King (Steve King) & Tabitha Spruce, Michael Alpert, et al. The Blanket Conspiracy, Orono, Maine.OVERALL Condition: VERY GOOD+ BOOK is in VG+ condition. The all white wraps show light soiling and a few stains. Some light rubbing to spine tips and corners. $1.00 price stamped on title page. Cover art is colorful and unrubbed. Hinges and joints are tight. A few very light vertical reading creases near the spine. Minimal edge wear. Interior is clean with no writing beyond the author signatures. No stamps or ex libris marks, a few stray marks. Page edges show some toning and light foxing; the interior pages are bright and still white with no foxing.Keep in mind, once again: King no longer signs books except at scheduled events. You cant mail him books anymore or bring along his older work for him to sign at signing events. This extremely rare signed copy of Moth will only appreciate in value, particularly because of its extraordinary scarcity, provenance, literary importance and collectible condition. Book will be exceptionally well packaged and shipped priority or registered mail and insured with signature required upon delivery for you and your new treasures protection.I have bought and sold books and art on eBay for over a decade and have a 100% satisfaction rating. I am now selling on ABE Books. Im a collector first and know what it's like to receive items not matching the sellers descriptions or that were poorly packaged and damaged in transit. That is why I offer a 100% satisfaction, money back guarantee, and go to great lengths to accurately describe my rare, signed and collectible books and post pictures of the "actual book." I carefully package and ship your newly acquired treasure(s) and ship within 1 business day of receiving your order.
Seller: Ironwolf Books, Litchfield Park, AZ, U.S.A.