# Is "Night Shift" by Stephen King a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Night Shift by Stephen King (Doubleday, 1978) is identified by: True first states "First Edition" on the copyright page and carries the gutter code S52 (lower margin, near the end of the text block). The US Doubleday is the true first of King's first story collection; the UK Macdonald is the UK first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- True first states "First Edition" on the copyright page and carries the gutter code S52 (lower margin, near the end of the text block)
- The S52 code reflects Doubleday's year/week printing scheme
- Introduction by John D. MacDonald
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Stephen King |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 1978 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | True first states "First Edition" on the copyright page and carries the gutter code S52 (lower margin, near the end of the text block) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
True first states "First Edition" on the copyright page and carries the gutter code S52 (lower margin, near the end of the text block). The S52 code reflects Doubleday's year/week printing scheme. Introduction by John D. MacDonald.

## Is this the true first?
The US Doubleday is the true first of King's first story collection; the UK Macdonald is the UK first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club edition has a blind-stamped gutter code (small dot or circle) on the lower rear board, lacks the "First Edition" statement, and has an unpriced jacket. Doubleday book-club copies are the classic trap here.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Night Shift* by Stephen King a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/night-shift
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.