# Is "The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three" by Stephen King a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King (Donald M. Grant, 1987) is identified by: Grant first edition; trade issue with stated First Edition on the copyright page, plus a signed limited issue of 800 numbered copies signed by King and illustrator Phil Hale, housed in a gray cloth slipcase. Grant edition is the true first; the signed and numbered issue is the collectible signed first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Grant first edition; trade issue with stated First Edition on the copyright page, plus a signed limited issue of 800 numbered copies signed by King and illustrator Phil Hale, housed in a gray cloth slipcase
- Illustrated throughout by Phil Hale
- Publisher imprint reads Donald M. Grant
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Stephen King |
| Publisher | Donald M. Grant |
| Year | 1987 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Grant first edition; trade issue with stated First Edition on the copyright page, plus a signed limited issue of 800 numbered copies signed… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Grant first edition; trade issue with stated First Edition on the copyright page, plus a signed limited issue of 800 numbered copies signed by King and illustrator Phil Hale, housed in a gray cloth slipcase. Illustrated throughout by Phil Hale.

## Is this the true first?
Grant edition is the true first; the signed and numbered issue is the collectible signed first. The NAL/Plume trade edition came later.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not applicable; the later trade is a reprint.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three* by Stephen King a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-dark-tower-ii-the-drawing-of-the-three
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.