The points of issue
Warner Books paperback original (254 pp, ISBN 0-446-92246-3); copyright page states First Printing: January, 1980. Laymon's first novel and the first Beast House book.
Is this the true first?
The US Warner paperback original (January 1980) is the true first. New English Library issued the UK edition later in 1980 as a paperback (224 pp, ISBN 0-450-04927-2), not a hardcover; the first hardcover editions came much later from specialty presses.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
N/A (paperback original).
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Cellar a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Warner Books paperback original (254 pp, ISBN 0-446-92246-3); copyright page states First Printing: January, 1980. Laymon's first novel and the first Beast House book.
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 US Warner paperback original (January 1980) is the true first. New English Library issued the UK edition later in 1980 as a paperback (224 pp, ISBN 0-450-04927-2), not a hardcover; the first hardcover editions came much later from specialty presses.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
N/A (paperback original).
I have a first edition of The Cellar — 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.