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How to Identify a First Edition of The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower

Stephen King

The Donald M. Grant first edition came in two issues. The signed one is 1,500 slipcased copies in two volumes, numbered and signed by King and Michael Whelan, issued at $225. The Artist Edition is 5,000 copies signed by Whelan alone, issued at $50 — and a few hundred of those carry a small drawing he added while signing.

The first edition at a glance

Publisher
Donald M. Grant, Publisher
Published
2004
Original price
$225.00 (signed and numbered issue)
Pages
864
Edition statement
Donald M. Grant, 2004, illustrated by Michael Whelan. Issued as 1,500 signed and numbered copies and 5,000 Artist Edition copies.

Identification checklist

  • Which issue — who signed it

    The signed and numbered issue is signed by both King and Whelan and carries a number. The Artist Edition is signed by Whelan alone and is not numbered. That is the quickest way to tell them apart.

  • Signed and numbered issue

    1,500 copies, in two volumes with a slipcase, at an issue price of $225. Release slipped from 21 September into October because the slipcases had not reached Grant in time.

  • Artist Edition

    5,000 copies signed by Michael Whelan, at an issue price of $50. Smyth sewn, a better binding than the trade edition.

  • Remarqued copies

    While signing five thousand sheets Whelan drew small sketches on some of them. He did not keep a record, and puts the number somewhere between 100 and 500 — so a sketch is not something a copy can be assumed to have, and its absence proves nothing about the copy.

  • Copies with original art

    Whelan sold 19 copies carrying an original pencil or pen drawing direct from his own website, alongside pre-sold signed trade copies.

Variants and states

  • Signed and numbered

    1,500 copies, two volumes, slipcased, signed by King and Whelan. Issue price $225.

  • Artist Edition

    5,000 copies signed by Whelan, Smyth sewn. Issue price $50. Between 100 and 500 carry a small sketch by him.

  • Artist Edition with original art

    19 copies with an original pencil or pen drawing, sold direct by Whelan.

Think you have one?

Photograph the cover and the copyright page and FirstFinder will work out the edition and printing, then price it against copies that actually sold. What a specific copy is worth depends on its condition and its jacket, which is why there is no single number on this page.

Check your copy

Other identification guides

Sources