The points of issue
Trade first states "First published in 1980 by The Viking Press" on the copyright page with no number line, and has a priced jacket. The deluxe true first is the Phantasia Press signed/limited (Huntington Woods, Michigan, 1980): 725 numbered copies in dust jacket and slipcase, plus 26 lettered copies (A-Z) bound in aluminum-coated cloth, the latter nicknamed the "asbestos" Firestarter. Both Phantasia issues are signed by King; cover art by Michael Whelan.
Is this the true first?
The Viking trade edition is treated as the true first trade edition; the Phantasia Press signed/limited appeared the same year and is the prized signed issue. The 26 lettered copies, not the 725 numbered, carry the special aluminum-coated binding.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Doubleday/book-club edition shows a gutter-code blind stamp on a rear board, is smaller, and has an unpriced jacket. Do not confuse the BCE with the Phantasia limited, which is numbered or lettered, signed, and slipcased.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Firestarter a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Trade first states "First published in 1980 by The Viking Press" on the copyright page with no number line, and has a priced jacket. The deluxe true first is the Phantasia Press signed/limited (Huntington Woods, Michigan, 1980): 725 numbered copies in dust jacket and slipcase, plus 26 lettered copies (A-Z) bound in aluminum-coated cloth, the latter nicknamed the "asbestos" Firestarter. Both Phantasia issues are signed by King; cover art by Michael Whelan.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The Viking trade edition is treated as the true first trade edition; the Phantasia Press signed/limited appeared the same year and is the prized signed issue. The 26 lettered copies, not the 725 numbered, carry the special aluminum-coated binding.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Doubleday/book-club edition shows a gutter-code blind stamp on a rear board, is smaller, and has an unpriced jacket. Do not confuse the BCE with the Phantasia limited, which is numbered or lettered, signed, and slipcased.
I have a first edition of Firestarter — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.