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Collector Features & Identification
Author: David Eddings
Cover Artist: Edwin Herder
Book Series: The Malloreon (Book 2)
Publisher & Year: Del Rey / Ballantine Books (1988)
Format: Hardcover with Dust Jacket (Trade Edition)
Edition: Early Trade Edition, Second Printing (Signed)
Identification: This is an exceptionally rare, verified flat-signed early trade edition (Second Printing) of David Eddings\' King of the Murgos. The copyright page cites 1988 with the print line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2. The dust jacket displays the original $16.95 price on the inner flap. The volume is bound in black boards featuring a matching black quarter-cloth binding with gold lettering denoting the author, title, and Del Rey publisher mark on the spine. The paste-downs and endpapers are crisp, clean white.
Genre: Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Classic 80s Fantasy
Topics:
◦ Belgarion (Garion) and Ce\'Nedra
◦ Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress
◦ Zandramas the Child of Dark
◦ The Murgos and King Urgit
◦ The Mallorean Empire
◦ Silk and Velvet
◦ The Prophecy of Light vs. Dark
Exact Page Count: 454 Pages
About the Book (Synopsis)
Continuing the epic quest of The Malloreon, King Garion and Queen Ce\'Nedra are desperate to find their kidnapped infant son, who has been taken by Zandramas, the new avatar of the Dark Prophecy. Guided by the Orb of Aldur, their journey takes them through the foul, serpent-infested swamps of Nyissa and deep into the hostile, desolate lands of the Murgos. There, surrounded by centuries-old enemies and terrifying new threats, they must forge an uneasy alliance with the wily and paranoid King Urgit if they hope to save their son and prevent the ultimate triumph of Darkness.
Archival Preservation
Archival Sleeve: The dust jacket is protected by a professional-grade, 1.5-mil clear Mylar archival cover.
Adhesive-Free Policy: My archival process utilizes zero adhesives, tape, or glues directly on the dust jacket or book, ensuring the integrity and value of the original materials are never compromised.
Archival Backing: The jacket is supported by acid-free, pH-neutral backing paper to preserve paper quality and prevent any toning. Note: The Mylar is fitted naturally with unfinished creases to prevent spine stress and to allow the buyer to make fine visual adjustments to the backing height to their personal preference.
Structural Integrity: Stored upright in a smoke-free, climate-controlled environment.
Condition Report
This volume is in Very Good to Like New condition overall. While it is a second printing, its unread structural integrity combined with the authentic signature makes it a highly desirable collector\'s piece.
Dust Jacket: Flawless. The iconic Edwin Herder cover art remains in perfect, immaculate condition, exhibiting absolutely no scuffs, edge wear, or damage. Fully stabilized, smoothed, and beautifully protected under Mylar.
Binding & Boards: Very Good to Like New. The black boards and quarter-cloth binding are perfectly clean, square, and solid. The gold spine lettering is bright and sharp. The hinges are incredibly tight and highly resistant, confirming this volume has never been broken in or read. Forensic Note: There is a very minor cosmetic stain on the inside of the underlying board, which is completely hidden when the jacket is in place and does not affect the text block.
Text Block: Very Good to Like New. The text block is firm, tight, and crisp. Due to the paper stock of the era, the pages exhibit light, natural, uniform age-tanning, but otherwise appear completely untouched.
Internal: Clean white paste-downs and endpapers. Features a rare, authentic flat signature from David Eddings directly on the title page. Free of any other internal markings, remainder marks, or owner inscriptions.
Why This Listing Has Premium Pricing
This is a preserved collector asset that respects forensic honesty. You are paying for verified quality, professional curation, and extreme rarity:
◦ The Signature Premium: David Eddings (who passed away in 2009) was notoriously reclusive and not a prolific signer. Authentic, flat-signed copies of his hardcover novels are exceedingly rare on the collector market. This unread, early printing presents a unique opportunity to own a verified piece of fantasy history.
◦ Deep Forensic Research: I conduct meticulous research on every book, thoroughly checking codes, publisher history, and edition markers to guarantee exactly what you are receiving.
◦ The Craft of Preservation: Hardcover books arrive protected by high-grade archival sleeves with acid-free backing.
◦ Unmatched Transparency: I provide honest, detailed descriptions of condition, ensuring you know exactly what is in your collection.
◦ Transparent & Fair Shipping: I do not inflate shipping costs to pad margins. You pay the true, calculated rate for secure transit, whether domestic or international.
◦ 360° Video Display & Comprehensive Photography: Please see all pictures and the included video to know exactly what you are getting. I utilize a rotating display platform to provide a full 55-second 360-degree rotation of the actual book. The first half of the video shows the rotation with the dust jacket on, and the second half shows the rotation with the jacket off so you can clearly see the condition of the underlying boards.
Buyer Inquiries
Questions: If you have any questions about this listing or need to see additional details, please reach out. I am always happy to answer any questions you might have.
Shipping & Handling
Your book will be shipped appropriately in a box with bubble wrap and protective wrapping. I ship within 1-2 business days.
Service: USPS Media Mail
Combined Shipping: I offer combined shipping if you are looking to acquire multiple items from the archive. Just send me a direct message before checking out so I can sort the rates for you.
Physical Dimensions
Height: 9.50 in
Length: 6.25 in
Width: 1.50 in
Weight: 1.75 lb
