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Desperation; BCE or Something Else

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:37 am
by abcarr
I've had a copy of this book since it was first published (or shortly after that) in 1996. I don't remember where I got it, although I do know that it was new when I got it. But my question is, what edition is it?

The info/number line on the copyright page is identical to what a first edition should be, but there are two differences with the book/dust jacket that make me think it might be a BCE. First, there is no price printed on the front inside flap of the dust jacket. But the code "0996" is there. Secondly, the paste-downs in the front and rear of the book are white/off-white instead of red.

So other than the lack of a price on the dust jacket and different color paste-downs, everything else indicates a first edition.
Any thoughts??
Thanks!

Re: Desperation; BCE or Something Else

Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:04 am
by Mr. Rabbit Trick
Sounds like a BCE to me. A lot of the BCE used the 1st edition page blocks until they ran out of them. You will find lots of BCEs with identical page blocks as the 1sts, but the pastedown and boards are not the same. That's how you tell them apart.

Re: Desperation; BCE or Something Else

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 1:02 pm
by abcarr
Found a third discrepancy with my edition of Desperation. Stopped by one of the local re-sell it shops on my way home from work yesterday and they had, by all indications, a 1st edition of the book in very good condition. (Price stamped and correct code on the dust jacket, red paste downs front & rear, correct color boards and correct 1st edition copyright info.) So for $1.50 I didn't think twice about buying it. When I got it home and compared it to my original edition, this third discrepancy was very obvious. The lettering (book title and author's name) on the front of the dust jacket of the one I just bought is raised and glossy, whereas the lettering on my original edition is flat with no shine.

BTW, thanks for the reply.