The Dark Half by Stephen King is a 1989 Viking hardcover first edition, second printing, with its original illustrated dust jacket and 431 pages.
King builds this psychological horror novel around writer Thad Beaumont and the violent alter ego tied to his discarded pseudonym, George Stark. This is a solid reading and display copy for someone building a Stephen King shelf or looking for the original 1989 Viking hardcover rather than a later reprint.
Details
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Item: Hardcover book with dust jacket
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Title: The Dark Half
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Author: Stephen King
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Illustrator: Lars Hokanson
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Publisher: Viking, Viking Penguin, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc.
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Publication Year: 1989
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Edition and Printing: First edition, second printing. Copyright page number line reads 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2.
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Format and Binding: Hardcover with dark cloth covered boards and gilt SK monogram on front
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Dust Jacket: Present. Original jacket with $21.95 U.S. and $27.95 Canadian price printed on front flap.
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Pages: 431 pages
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Genre: Horror, psychological horror, suspense fiction
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Language: English
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ISBN: 0-670-82982-X, ISBN 13 9780670829828
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Dimensions: Approximately 9 3/4 inches tall by 6 3/4 inches wide by 1 1/2 inches thick
Condition Grade: Very Good
Positives
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Graded Very Good: The book is complete, readable, and attractive with light signs of handling and shelf use.
- The dark hardcover boards remain clean looking, with the gilt SK monogram clearly visible on the front board.
- The pages shown are clean and easy to read, with a sound appearance and clear printing.
- The original dust jacket is present and remains bright, glossy, and easy to display.
- The jacket retains its original $21.95 U.S. price on the front flap, an identifying feature useful when comparing early Viking copies.
Issues / Wear
- The dust jacket shows shelf wear along the edges and corners, including rubbing and small areas of surface loss at the upper corners and spine ends.
- Light surface scuffing and handling wear are visible on the glossy jacket.
- The page edges show mild age toning. The interior pages photographed remain clearly legible.
Condition Grade Key
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Near Fine: Almost perfect. Very minor signs of age only.
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Very Good: Shows light use. Sound and attractive with minor flaws.
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Good: Complete and intact. Noticeable wear consistent with age and use.
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Fair: Shows significant wear. Readable or usable but clearly used.
Collector's Notes
The copyright page carries the 1989 Viking publication statement and a number line beginning with 3. That identifies this copy as the second printing of the first edition rather than the first printing.
The Dark Half connects especially well with readers collecting King's Viking era hardcovers. The original jacket artwork gives it the shelf look many readers remember from the late 1980s.
This copy keeps both the jacket and the original $21.95 price on the flap. Those details make identifying exactly which hardcover is being offered much easier.
With 431 pages and clear, readable text, this copy still works as a reading book as well as part of a Stephen King shelf.
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Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece, please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
Care and Handling:
Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40 to 50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
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