# Is "Pet Sematary" by Stephen King a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Pet Sematary by Stephen King (Doubleday, 1983) is identified by: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Doubleday gutter code 'Q35' (final text page). US Doubleday 1983 true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Doubleday gutter code 'Q35' (final text page)
- Dust jacket with its printed price
- First state has the gutter code, stated First Edition, and original jacket price
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Stephen King |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 1983 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Doubleday gutter code 'Q35' (final text page) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with the Doubleday gutter code 'Q35' (final text page). Dust jacket with its printed price. First state has the gutter code, stated First Edition, and original jacket price.

## Is this the true first?
US Doubleday 1983 true first. UK Hodder & Stoughton (1983) first British. The decisive trade-first point is the 'Q35' gutter code with stated First Edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club lacks the gutter code, has the rear-board blind-stamp, and no jacket price. Gutter code present = trade first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Pet Sematary* by Stephen King a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/pet-sematary
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.