Ellsworth/Hancock - We all know you can't judge a book by its cover, but you can actually learn quite a lot from the cover of a book up for auction at Scotties Bookhouse in Hancock.

Its cover tells book collectors that it's a rare, limited edition copy of The Regulators, which Stephen King wrote under the pen name Richard Bachman.

Its slipcase cover makes it even more unique.

"There's only 550 of these that were boxed this way," explained Scotties Bookhouse Owner Michael Riggs.

The book was donated by a regular bookstore customer who'd like to remain anonymous. The donor had a plan for what to do with the book's sale, but first he wanted to know what it was worth.

"I told him the book would be worth more if he could get Mr. King to sign it," said Riggs.

We don't know the details of that transaction, but we do know that if you open the cover now you'll find that Stephen King signed and dated it.

It might be because the donor plans to put all of the money from the book's auction toward the fuel fund at Emmaus Homeless Shelter in Ellsworth.

"I just think it's an ingenius way of being able to get a little bit extra to help people out," said Sister Lucille MacDonald, Director at Emmaus Homeless Shelter.

The fuel fund helps those who can't afford to heat their homes during the cold Maine winter.

Sister MacDonald said, "People come in and their tanks are empty and they have children and babies and the elderly. The other day an 85-year-old woman came in to the shelter and I was able to give fuel for her."

The shelter may be able to help out many more with the potential for a very high bid on this very rare book.

The book is on display at Scotties Bookstore at 209 Route 1 in Hancock.

You can place bids in person, by phone at 667-6834, or by e-mail at scottybooks@yahoo.com.

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