Suntup, Subterranean Press, and Cemetery Dance: The Specialty Press Collecting Guide
Specialty presses — publishers that produce limited-edition, fine-press, or collector-oriented editions of significant literary works — have become one of the most dynamic segments of the modern book collecting market. Led by Suntup Editions, Subterranean Press, Cemetery Dance Publications, and others, these publishers produce beautiful physical objects in controlled quantities, creating a secondary market that sometimes exceeds the value of the original trade first editions.
The Major Specialty Presses
Suntup Editions
Founded: 2016 (Irvine, California) Focus: Literary fiction and genre classics in fine-press editions Price range: $75-$600 at publication Secondary market: $200-$10,000+
Edition hierarchy:
| Tier | Run Size | Binding | Signed By | Price at Publication | Secondary Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettered | 26 copies (A-Z) | Full leather, unique | Author (if living) + artist | $450-$600 | $2,000-$10,000+ |
| Numbered | 250-350 copies | Quarter leather or cloth | Author (if living) + artist | $175-$300 | $500-$3,000 |
| Artist Gift | 5-15 copies | Matches Lettered | Artist only | Not publicly sold | $1,500-$5,000 |
Notable Suntup editions and secondary market values:
- Blood Meridian (McCarthy): Lettered $5,000-$8,000, Numbered $1,000-$2,000
- The Road (McCarthy): Lettered $3,000-$6,000, Numbered $500-$1,500
- Infinite Jest (Wallace, posthumous — artist signed only): Numbered $400-$800
- Slaughterhouse-Five (Vonnegut, posthumous): Numbered $300-$600
- No Country for Old Men (McCarthy): Lettered $4,000-$7,000
Key dynamics:
- Suntup has become the premier literary fine-press publisher in the US market
- Their editions often appreciate immediately upon shipping (the “Suntup flip”)
- The lettered editions (26 copies) are the true rarities and command the highest premiums
- Living author signatures add significant value over posthumous (artist-only) editions
- Subscription model: Members get priority access to new editions
Subterranean Press
Founded: 1995 (Burton, Michigan) Focus: Science fiction, fantasy, horror, and literary fiction Price range: $40-$250 at publication Secondary market: $100-$5,000+
Edition hierarchy:
| Tier | Run Size | Binding | Signed By | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettered | 26 copies | Full leather or special binding | Author | $200-$400 |
| Numbered | 200-500 copies | Special cloth/quarter leather | Author | $75-$200 |
| Trade | 1,000-2,000 copies | Standard cloth | Unsigned | $40-$75 |
Notable Subterranean editions:
- A Game of Thrones (Martin): Lettered $8,000-$15,000
- The Name of the Wind (Rothfuss): Numbered $500-$1,500
- American Gods (Gaiman): Lettered $3,000-$6,000
- Various Gene Wolfe titles: $200-$2,000
Key dynamics:
- Subterranean is the dominant specialty press for genre fiction (SF, fantasy, horror)
- They have exclusive relationships with many major genre authors
- Their George R.R. Martin editions are among the most valuable modern limited editions
- The press is known for quality production — better paper, bindings, and design than trade publishers
- Wait times can be extensive (some editions take years from announcement to delivery)
Cemetery Dance Publications
Founded: 1988 (Forest Hill, Maryland) Focus: Horror fiction, primarily Stephen King and the wider horror genre Price range: $50-$300 at publication Secondary market: $100-$5,000+
Edition hierarchy:
| Tier | Run Size | Binding | Signed By | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Lettered | 26-52 copies | Full leather, traycase | Author + artist | Highest value |
| Gift Edition | 250-750 copies | Special binding | Author | Strong secondary market |
| Trade | 2,000-5,000 copies | Standard | Sometimes signed | Most accessible |
Stephen King at Cemetery Dance: Cemetery Dance is the primary specialty publisher for Stephen King limited editions. Key titles:
- Full Dark, No Stars: Lettered $2,000-$4,000
- Secretary of Dreams: Lettered $3,000-$6,000
- IT (25th Anniversary): Gift $500-$1,200
- Various short fiction collections: $200-$1,000
Key dynamics:
- Cemetery Dance is synonymous with horror collecting
- Their Stephen King editions are the primary King limited market
- Production quality varies more than Suntup (some editions are excellent, others are average)
- Wait times can be extremely long (years between order and delivery)
- Their magazine Cemetery Dance is itself a collectible (early issues $50-$200)
Centipede Press
Founded: ~2003 (Lakewood, Colorado) Focus: Horror, weird fiction, and literary genre classics Price range: $75-$400 at publication Secondary market: $200-$3,000+
Strengths:
- Exceptional production quality (among the finest in the specialty press world)
- Focus on neglected or underappreciated classics
- Masters of Weird Fiction series: definitive editions of Ligotti, Aickman, Blackwood, etc.
- Bibliophile’s delight: illustrated, well-designed, with scholarly apparatus
The Folio Society
Founded: 1947 (London) Focus: Illustrated editions of classic and modern literature Price range: $50-$300 at publication Secondary market: $50-$1,000+
Key distinctions from other specialty presses:
- Much larger runs (typically 1,000-5,000+ copies)
- Not signed (almost never)
- Focus on illustration and design rather than author access
- Produced in the UK with high-quality materials
- Some limited editions (especially recent ones) do command significant premiums
Notable Folio Society editions on the secondary market:
- The Lord of the Rings (Folio Society, Lee illustrations): $300-$800
- Blood Meridian: $200-$500
- Gormenghast: $200-$400
- Dune: $100-$300
The Specialty Press Market Dynamics
Why Specialty Editions Appreciate
- Fixed supply: Once an edition sells out, no more copies are produced
- Known quantity: Exact print runs are published, enabling precise scarcity assessment
- Quality premium: Better materials, bindings, and design than trade editions
- Author signatures: Many editions are signed, adding authenticity value
- Collector community: Dedicated collector bases for each press create consistent demand
The Flip Market
A significant phenomenon in specialty press collecting is the “flip” — buying at publication price and immediately reselling at a markup:
How it works: Suntup announces an edition at $200. It sells out in minutes. Within days, copies appear on eBay and collector forums at $400-$800.
The economics: For lettered editions (26 copies, $450-$600 at publication), the flip premium can be 5-10x. For numbered editions (250-350 copies), the flip premium is typically 1.5-3x.
The ethical debate: Some collectors view flipping as legitimate market activity; others see it as scalping that harms genuine readers and collectors. Suntup and other presses have implemented anti-flipping measures (purchase limits, blacklisting known flippers), with limited success.
Specialty Press vs. Trade First Edition
A common collecting question: should you buy the specialty press limited edition or the original trade first edition?
| Factor | Trade First | Specialty Press |
|---|---|---|
| Bibliographic priority | First edition | Secondary edition |
| Physical quality | Standard trade | Superior materials |
| Author signature | May or may not be signed | Usually signed |
| Supply | Unknown (could be 5,000 or 50,000) | Known and fixed (26-500) |
| Investment track record | 50+ years of data | 10-20 years of data |
| Liquidity | High (well-understood market) | Moderate (niche market) |
The general rule: For major titles by canonical authors, the trade first edition will always be the primary collecting target. Specialty press editions are complements, not substitutes. However, for genre authors where trade firsts are common (large print runs), specialty press editions may hold value better than unsigned trade firsts.
Building a Specialty Press Collection
By Press
Suntup completist: Attempting to own every Suntup edition. This is expensive ($50,000+) and increasingly difficult as early editions appreciate.
Subterranean genre focus: Collecting Subterranean’s output for a specific author or genre (all Martin, all Wolfe, all King).
Cemetery Dance horror: Building a comprehensive horror library through Cemetery Dance’s editions.
By Author
Using specialty presses to build a beautiful, signed library of a single author’s work — for example, collecting all McCarthy editions from Suntup, or all Gaiman from Subterranean.
By Tier
Focusing exclusively on lettered editions (26 copies each) across multiple presses — the “26 Club” approach. This creates a collection of extreme rarity but requires significant capital and speed (lettereds sell out in seconds).
People Also Ask
Are Suntup Editions a good investment? Suntup lettered editions (26 copies) have consistently appreciated, often doubling or tripling from publication price within months. Numbered editions (250-350 copies) also appreciate but more modestly. The secondary market is active, with established resale channels. However, like any collectible, values can fluctuate.
What is the difference between lettered and numbered editions? Lettered editions (A-Z, 26 copies) are the rarest tier — full leather binding, unique features, and the highest value. Numbered editions (typically 250-500 copies) are the middle tier — fine binding, signed, but larger runs. Trade editions (1,000+) are the most accessible tier.
Should I collect specialty press editions or trade first editions? For canonical authors with scarce trade firsts (McCarthy, Wallace), the trade first is always the primary target. For genre authors with common trade firsts (King, Martin, Gaiman), specialty press editions offer superior physical quality and known scarcity. Most serious collectors buy both.
How do I buy Suntup Editions at publication price? Subscribe to Suntup’s mailing list and be ready to purchase within minutes of announcement. Popular editions sell out in seconds. Membership programs offer priority access. Alternatively, buy on the secondary market at a premium.