Can anyone provide me with more information on the Red Leather Library books. How many different titles were produced? Was there more than one edition issued? Do they have any value as a collectible? I have not been able to find much information on these books other than what I can find from people selling them. Any information that can be provided would be appreciated.

Thanks,

SkippyD

Hi Skippy, I don't know exactly which books were issued in the red "leather" binding, but I think almost all King's trade books were done. They were done by The Stephen King Library book club. I put the "leather" in quotes because they are not REALLY bound in leather, but it just looks like it.

I personally don't collect them, but there seem to be a good number of people who do. (I actually think they're rather boring to look at, but that's just me.)

One of the other members of these boards, e_taylor, does collect them (and I think he's got a couple for sale now).

John

John's right, I can provide a bit more info, although I no longer collect these.

If I remember correctly there are 32 titles in total.

All are reprints/ book club editions up until Nightmares and Dreamscapes.

This was the first title to use a 1st printing textblock.

Make sure you check with a seller before hand as there are also later printings that are bound like this.

The rare ones are from about Bag of Bones onwards. Not sure why, but there are very few of these titles and some command quite high prices.

The two "collectible" gems are Storm of the Century and Secret Windows. With these books they are all technically book club editions, even the ones 1st printing text blocks as the "Stephen King Library" was a book club.

However with Storm of the Century and Secret Windows, ONLY book club editions are available and therefore these are just the "nicest" or "best" editions available.

I was told by another collector that Hutch used to buy these two titles for $75 a pop to resell.

Additionally, if you are interested in price ranges... in a good economy (i.e. better than the current situation)...

Carrie through Night Shift should be worth about $40 - $50

Dead Zone through Tommyknockers should be worth about $25- $35

Misery through Dolores Claiborne should be worth about $15 - $20

Nightmares and Dreamscapes through Desperation (assuming 1st prints) should be about $25- $35

Bag of Bones through From a Buick 8 should be worth $40 - $80

Storm of the Century and Secret Windows being the two "special" ones should be worth $90+

Hope this helps!

Thanks e_taylor.

You stated "Make sure you check with a seller before hand as there are also later printings that are bound like this." How can you tell what the original printings are?

I have found someone that is selling a complete set of the books and as described to me and they few pictures I saw of the outside of the books that appear tobe from the "Red Leather Library" but I want to be sure I am getting the original books.

Thanks,

SkippyD

All the books up to Nightmares and Dreamscapes are either bookclub or later printing text blocks, so you can't go wrong with them. From Nightmares and Dreamscapes forward you need to check the copyright pages to ensure a full 1-10 numberline. If its not there (which it isn't always) then its a later printing.

Also, I apologize - I gave you the wrong number. There are 37 titles in the "Stephen King Library".

Heres the list:

Secret Windows
On Writing
The Dark Half
From a Buick 8
Dreamcatcher
Salem's Lot
Misery
Four Past Midnight
Firestarter
Dolores Claiborne
It
Insomnia
Bag of Bones
Gerald's Game
Desperation
Different Seasons
Needful Things
The Shining
The Eyes of the Dragon
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Hearts in Atlantis
Christine
Cujo
Thinner
Storm of the Century
Stand, The
Everything's Eventual
The Dead Zone
Nightmares & Dreamscapes
Black House
Tommyknockers
Pet Sematary
Skeleton Crew
Rose Madder
Night Shift
Carrie
Stand (Complete & Uncut)

Thanks again e_taylor. I am going to take a look at the books this afternoon and will be sure to look for the numberlines. I am starting to think they might not be the originals. The seller aslo indicates that he has 36 books and that none of them are duplicates. With only 32 being in the set, my guess is they might not be the real thing. They are selling them for agood price and I was maybe hoping they just didn't know what they really had.

I will keep you posted,

SkippyD

Some quote 36 as the number of volumes in the set, and thats more than likely because theres both the original Stand and the Uncut Stand. Presumably most overlook this.

Unless you can get a set for $500- $600 you tend to be better off getting them piece by piece. With the except of a few you can usually get lucky on ebay and find them for $8- $15 each.

With patience you can probably put together a set for $400 or so.

Thanks again. Your information is very helpful. They are selling the set of 36 books for $200 which sounded like a real good deal to me, maybe too good to be true?