INSCRIBED BY STEPHEN KING IN THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION

KING, Stephen and STRAUB, Peter. The Talisman. (New York): Viking / G.P. Putnam's Sons, (1984). Octavo, original half red cloth, original dust jacket. $2800.

First trade edition of this collaborative work, inscribed on the title page by one of the authors, "For Matt Bombeck—Best wishes from Erma's mom—and Erma—and me— Stephen King 11/17/84."

"A much-anticipated collaboration" between two acclaimed masters of modern horror fiction "resulted in The Talisman, whose setting is split between the contemporary United States and the Territories, a dark parallel universe in which magic holds sway… The 12-year-old protagonist Jack Sawyer (his name a homage to Mark Twain) befriends a werewolf in the Territories and brings him back to the United States, where the two battle various adversaries in an epic quest" (Clute & Grant, 902). First printing, with no mention of later printings on the copyright page; first-printing dust jacket with original price of $18.95. Preceded by a signed/limited edition signed by both King and Straub. "With Love Grandma" in another hand on the inscription leaf. The recipient of this copy, Matt Bombeck, is the son of humorist Erma Bombeck, who was, along with King, one of the most popular and successful writers of the 1970s and 80s.

Book fine, dust jacket nearly so with just a bit of wear to spine head.