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Tally: Do You Have a Copy of "Twice the Power" Proof?

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 6:53 am
by George at C-Springs
I got a pretty good deal on a "Twice the Power" proof this week (thanks Rusty), and in doing some homework on it was trying to determine how many copies were produced (you might have seen the posts over in "Buy/Sell"). If you search on-line, go back through the forums, and ask fellow proof collectors, the general answer you get is "Ummmm ...". Okay, that's not unusual for proofs, sometimes the numbers just aren't known. For this particular one I heard 1 to 25, read "Up to 40" and was told "nobody knows exactly".

So, what I'd like to do is just get a tally of the known proofs in collector's hands, as well as their state and if there's anything special about them (PC, signed, numbered, etc.). It's also mentioned on Barry Levin's site (www.raresf.com) that "Another state of this "presentation proof" is reported to contain yet another story from FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT"; if your's does, please let us know. (Thanks John for the reminder).

To try and reach as many collectors as possible, I'm also going to put it up over at TDT in Calvin's Corner and Cara Laughs (will just copy and paste this whole thing) and then we'll see what kind of numbers we get. While I realize it won't be definitive, at least it'll give the collecting community a little bit better idea of what's out there.

To start it off, I have one copy (well, will when it arrives in the mail next week sometime anyway), I know Jhanic and Mr Rabbit Trick have at least one apiece, and there are two copies currently up for sale on various websites (more listings, but all for the same two copies). That makes 5 known so far. Everybody, please tell me what you've got!

George

Re: Tally: Do You Have a Copy of "Twice the Power" Proof?

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:36 am
by ELazansky
There are 3 copies listed at AbeBooks

Re: Tally: Do You Have a Copy of "Twice the Power" Proof?

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:55 am
by George at C-Springs
I just wrote to the seller (Fine Edition Books, in the UK) and asked for confirmation that they do in fact have two copies; both descriptions are exactly the same and quite creative ("virginal and untouched by human hands") with the exception of the inventory numbers, which I missed the first time I looked at it. It would appear with two inventory numbers that there are two copies, so hopefully I'll hear back from them with a good answer. Thanks for the info.

Re: Tally: Do You Have a Copy of "Twice the Power" Proof?

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:21 am
by ELazansky
I've bought from that seller before - very reputable and friendly.

Re: Tally: Do You Have a Copy of "Twice the Power" Proof?

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:57 am
by jhanic
I just have the one copy.

Interestingly, one of the Biblio Notes at Barry R. Levin's site mentions that there are rumors that there may be copies out there with a story different than Secret Window, Secret Garden included. I've never seen or heard of such an item except from Barry's note.
KING, STEPHEN. TWICE THE POWER.
Kent: Hodder & Stoughton. 1991. "Presentation proof." This volume contains Stephen King's novel, NEEDFUL THINGS, as well as the second story from King's FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT — "Secret Window, Secret Garden." (Another state of this "presentation proof" is reported to contain yet another story from FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT.) This volume was produced in order to promote the British first edition of NEEDFUL THINGS and the British first paperback edition of FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT. The "presentation proofs" are the only form the title twice the power takes. Wrappers.
http://www.raresf.com/bnotes.html

John

Re: Tally: Do You Have a Copy of "Twice the Power" Proof?

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:45 am
by George at C-Springs
I had read that too John, should have made a point to add that to my question .... specifically, does anybody have a copy with an extra or different story. I'll go back and edit the originals on both sites. Thanks --- George

Re: Tally: Do You Have a Copy of "Twice the Power" Proof?

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 11:44 am
by jhanic
In all my years searching, I've never found a copy.

John

Re: Tally: Do You Have a Copy of "Twice the Power" Proof?

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 2:49 pm
by needfulthings
My copy also has Secret Window, Secret Garden Title page reads NEEDFUL THINGS pages 7-698 TWO PAST MIDNIGHT pages "219-347"

Re: Tally: Do You Have a Copy of "Twice the Power" Proof?

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:28 pm
by George at C-Springs
Wow, that's interesting ... now we're getting somewhere! Two Past Midnight is the audio book, correct? Is there an actual section of the book with a story called Two Past Midnight, or is it just on the Title Page? Could you post scans/photos?

Re: Tally: Do You Have a Copy of "Twice the Power" Proof?

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:47 pm
by needfulthings
The Two Past Midnight only means that this is the 2nd story of 4 in Four Past Midnight and are listed that way between each story in both the U.S.& U.K. editions.