# Is "The Regulators" by Richard Bachman (Stephen King) a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Regulators by Richard Bachman (Stephen King) (Dutton, 1996) is identified by: Dutton, New York) hardcover first as by Richard Bachman, with the full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page. Dutton true first (as Bachman); companion volume to Desperation, published simultaneously.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Dutton (E. P. Dutton, New York) hardcover first as by Richard Bachman, with the full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page
- First-state jacket, art by Mark Ryden, carries a '0996' date code at the lower front flap and the printed price present on the front flap
- Issued the same day as its companion novel 'Desperation' (September 24, 1996); the two hardcover jackets, set side by side, form a single continuous Ryden painting, with each cover offering a peek at the other
- Publisher imprint reads Dutton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Richard Bachman (Stephen King) |
| Publisher | Dutton |
| Year | 1996 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Dutton (E. P. Dutton, New York) hardcover first as by Richard Bachman, with the full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Dutton (E. P. Dutton, New York) hardcover first as by Richard Bachman, with the full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page. First-state jacket, art by Mark Ryden, carries a '0996' date code at the lower front flap and the printed price present on the front flap. Issued the same day as its companion novel 'Desperation' (September 24, 1996); the two hardcover jackets, set side by side, form a single continuous Ryden painting, with each cover offering a peek at the other. 466 pp.

## Is this the true first?
Dutton true first (as Bachman); companion volume to Desperation, published simultaneously.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition exists; it lacks the full '...3 2 1' number line and the printed jacket price, and typically bears a blindstamp/gutter code to the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Regulators* by Richard Bachman (Stephen King) a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-regulators
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.