Stephen King “Christine” First Edition Vintage Hardcover 1983

📖 Stephen King “Christine” First Edition Vintage Hardcover 1983 by Stephen King (1983, The Viking Press) — The definitive 1983 horror classic about a possessed 1958 Plymouth Fury that transforms a bullied teen into a vengeful force. This copy presents in Good+ (G+) condition for the book and Very Good- (VG-) for the dust jacket, with original unclipped $16.95 price intact.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: Stephen King (born 1947)
• Publisher: The Viking Press, New York
• Year: 1983 (First Edition, first printing)
• Format: Hardcover with original dust jacket
• Pages: 526 | ISBN: 978-0-670-22026-7
• Condition: Book: Good+ (G+)/Very Good- (VG-) — full report below

THE STORY

Stephen King’s 1983 novel Christine tells the chilling story of Arnie Cunningham, a bullied high school outcast who purchases a dilapidated 1958 Plymouth Fury he names Christine. As Arnie restores the car, he undergoes a terrifying transformation—becoming increasingly arrogant, aggressive, and detached from his friends and family. The novel masterfully blends rock-and-roll nostalgia with supernatural horror, exploring themes of obsession, identity, and the dangerous allure of forbidden freedom. Eight months after publication, John Carpenter’s film adaptation brought the possessed Fury to life, cementing Christine’s place in horror cinema history.

THIS EDITION

This is a true first edition/first printing of Christine, published by The Viking Press in April 1983. Key identification points include the copyright page stating “First published in 1983 by The Viking Press” with no number line, and the original unclipped dust jacket retaining the printed price of $16.95 on the front flap. The book features the distinctive two-color binding: black cloth spine over vibrant red paper boards, with foil-stamped spine titling and the iconic “SK” monogram on the front board. This represents the US trade edition, the true first printing of 270,000 copies that established King’s dominance in 1980s horror fiction.

COVER ART / ILLUSTRATIONS / DESIGN

The dust jacket presents a striking black background with bold typography and atmospheric artwork. At the top, “STEPHEN KING” appears in large, impactful red serif lettering. Below, the title “CHRISTINE” dominates in a stylized chrome-effect font with pink and blue highlights, accompanied by a small white skull with sharp teeth and speed lines suggesting supernatural movement. The bottom features “A NOVEL” in clean white sans-serif text. The artwork effectively captures the novel’s menacing car theme through abstract, dynamic red streaks implying motion and power. The hardcover boards beneath show the classic Viking design: black cloth spine over red boards, with white vertical author name and title text, and the Viking publisher imprint at the spine base.

WHY IT MATTERS

• Defined 1980s horror: Christine arrived at the peak of Stephen King’s cultural influence, following hits like Cujo and Pet Sematary, and helped establish the era’s fascination with supernatural threats lurking in everyday American life.
• Cinematic legacy: John Carpenter’s 1983 film adaptation transformed the novel into a cult classic, with the possessed Plymouth Fury becoming one of cinema’s most iconic haunted vehicles, influencing countless car-centered horror narratives.
• Collectible significance: As a true first edition with original dust jacket and price intact, this copy represents the authentic 1983 Viking Press release that reached readers during the novel’s initial cultural impact, predating subsequent reprints and book club editions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? This is a true first edition/first printing of Christine, published by The Viking Press in April 1983, identified by the copyright page statement “First published in 1983 by The Viking Press” with no number line and the original unclipped $16.95 dust jacket price.

What condition is it in? The book is in Good+ (G+) to Very Good- (VG-) condition — see full condition report below.

Is the dust jacket included? Yes, the original unclipped dust jacket is present, showing wear consistent with age but retaining the critical $16.95 price on the front flap.

Is it signed? No, this copy is not signed; it represents the standard US trade edition.

FOR COLLECTORS

This copy offers collectors the authentic 1983 Viking Press first edition experience—the exact format that introduced Christine to readers during its initial release. The combination of true first edition status, original dust jacket with price intact, and the distinctive red/black two-color binding makes this a desirable specimen for Stephen King collectors focusing on his 1980s peak period works.

#### **Book Details**
n* **Author:** Stephen King
n* **Illustrator:** Craig DeCamps (Jacket Art), Andrew Unangst (Jacket Photo), R. Adelson (Jacket Design)
n* **Publisher:** The Viking Press
n* **Edition Points:** First Edition, first printing (1983). Unclipped dust jacket with original “$16.95” price and correct date codes on front flap; full Viking imprint on copyright page.

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#### **Condition Report**
n* **Overall Grade:** Book: Good+ (G+)/Very Good- (VG-) / Dust Jacket: Good+ (G+)
n* **Cover & Spine:** Black cloth spine over vibrant red paper boards with foiled spine titling and silver “SK” monogram on front.  Cloth on spine is mildly sunned at spine head and tail. Front board lower and both back board corners are bumped; lower corners paper is cracked at corner tips.
n* **Dust Jacket:** Present, unclipped ($16.95). Worn with losses/chipping at spine corners and flap fold corners.  Surprisingly uniform in color all around, not sunned on the spine.  Now protected in a removable archival sleeve for presentation.
n* **Text Block & Pages:** Block is tight.  Edges all around show some light soiling in numerous locations, upper edge lightly tanned.  End papers show some light handling smudges.
n* **Binding:** Square, tight, and structurally sound.  Hinges are solid, no loose, torn or folded pages.  No writing.

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See accompanying images for full condition details.

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Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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