I Am Legend Signed Limited Edition Richard Matheson 1995 No 334 of 500

📖 I Am Legend: 40th Anniversary Limited Edition (Gauntlet Publications, 1995) — A museum-grade specimen of one of the most influential works of speculative fiction. This is a signed, numbered limited edition, Copy #334 of 500, representing the “Gold Standard” of prestige genre publishing.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: Richard Matheson (1925–2013)
• Publisher: Gauntlet Publications, San Francisco
• Edition: 40th Anniversary Limited Edition (Numbered 334 of 500)
• Signatures: A composite authority set: Signed by Richard Matheson, George Clayton Johnson, Dan Simmons, and Dennis Etchison
• Format: Red leather boards with gilt lettering, housed in a black textured slipcase
• Collector’s Grade: Near Fine to Fine — archival state report below

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Published in 1954, Richard Matheson’s “I Am Legend” is the cornerstone of the post-apocalyptic canon. By inverting the vampire myth, Matheson created a blueprint for the modern zombie and survivalist genres, directly influencing George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead.” This volume is not merely a reprint, but a curated celebration of the novel’s 40th anniversary, preserved in a state that honors its status as a primary text of 20th-century horror.

THIS EDITION: THE GAUNTLET PRESTIGE STANDARD

Gauntlet Publications is renowned among serious bibliophiles for producing the “gold standard” of limited editions. This volume adheres to that prestige standard: deep red leather boards, brilliant gilt lettering, and a silk ribbon place mark sewn into the text block. The 258 cream-colored pages are impeccably preserved. Crucially, this copy features a rare composite signature set. While Matheson’s own signature is a high-priority marker, the addition of George Clayton Johnson (co-creator of “Horror Legend”), Dan Simmons, and Dennis Etchison transforms this copy from a simple signed book into a comprehensive record of the genre’s intellectual lineage.

BINDING & ARCHIVAL DESIGN

The presentation is quintessential Gauntlet: rich leather with gold foil script on the cover and a clean, architectural spine. The accompanying black textured slipcase provides essential structural protection and completes the archival presentation. The inclusion of “Horror Legend” by George Clayton Johnson adds significant bibliographic value, as this companion piece is absent from standard trade editions.

WHY IT MATTERS

• Signature Rarity: Matheson’s personal signatures on prestige limited editions are uncommon; a four-signature composite set is an exceptional rarity.
• Press Pedigree: Produced by Gauntlet Publications, whose limited runs are highly sought after for their superior materials and binding quality.
• Canonical Status: A definitive 40th Anniversary state of the novel that defined the post-apocalyptic genre.
• Archival Condition: An unread, near-fine specimen that has been meticulously preserved in its original slipcase.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

How rare is this limited edition? Extremely rare. Limited to only 500 numbered copies. Copy #334 is a mid-run specimen in an exceptional state of preservation.

Is the signature verified? Yes. The volume is signed by the author, Richard Matheson, alongside three other titans of the genre: Johnson, Simmons, and Etchison.

What is the condition grade? Near Fine to Fine. The leather boards are crisp, the gilt is bright, and the text block is unread and pristine. The slipcase is solid with no splits or significant wear.

FOR COLLECTORS

A signed, limited Gauntlet edition of “I Am Legend” is one of the most prestigious acquisitions for a science fiction or horror archive. The combination of a top-tier publisher, an archival state of preservation, and a composite authority set of signatures makes this a trophy-grade specimen of 20th-century speculative publishing.

This is a “near fine” to “fine” vintage hardcover in slipcase with silk ribbon place mark sewn in, published by Gauntlet Publications in 1995 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this classic “vampire” / zombie / science fiction tale.

Limited, numbered edition, first edition thus, signed by Richard Matheson, Dennis Etchison, Dan Simmons and George Clayton Johnson.
Appears to be unread.

See accompanying images to view just how nice this copy is.

Will ship promptly, well packaged.

—
HFB-SEO-v1: 2026-10-15

3 in stock