Signed First Edition The Tommyknockers – Stephen King (1987) | Bangor-Era Signature | Provenance

This is the first signed King we’ve personally come across—and it’s a strong example. A true first edition, first printing of The Tommyknockers (1987, G.P. Putnam’s Sons), signed directly on the title page by Stephen King.

The previous owner acquired this while working on a NASA-related project in Bangor, Maine, where King was living at the time. Known for his curiosity around science and technology, and a longtime interest in NASA, King visited the facility, toured what they were building, and signed a small number of books during that visit. This copy has remained with the original recipient since the late 1980s / early 1990s.

A standard first printing of The Tommyknockers is easy to find due to a large print run, with typical unsigned copies selling in the $20–$100 range. But a true first printing signed near the time of publication—not decades later—moves into a completely different tier. Comparable signed firsts generally land around $500 on the low end, with clean, well-preserved examples reaching $1,000–$2,000+ depending on condition and confidence in the signature.

What drives that jump isn’t just the signature—it’s the context. Early-era King signatures from the 1970s–1980s are meaningfully scarcer than modern signing-event copies, and period-correct provenance tied to Bangor adds credibility and appeal. King remains one of the most actively collected living authors, and demand for authentic signed firsts stays consistent.

This example presents very well overall, with a full number line confirming first printing, original dust jacket, and a clean, tight binding. There is light rubbing and minor wear at the corners and spine ends, along with slight bumping at the edges (see photos). The pages are clean and bright. The signature is in black ink on the title page, with a line passing through the printed name—something occasionally seen as part of the signing motion rather than a later alteration.

Most copies of this book are simply mass-market horror. This one crosses firmly into collector territory.