'Salem's Lot [First Edition, Q37 Code]

Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, 1975. First edition stated, code Q37 at page 439. Presented in a facsimile of first state dust wrapper with Father Cody error as the bad priest of which less than a half-dozen of the original, priced 8.95, are known to exist - a few turned up in a Doubleday file cabinet. Blood red boards, black cloth spine wrap, gilt spine titles, moderate shelf, corner wear, spine rub; small mended area to upper front board and verso to pastedown. Deckled pages generally near fine. Pages 9, 10 and 11 with small mends of acid-free document adhesive. Vintage "Peanuts" bookplate at front endpaper signed: "Florence Fina." Classic plate in red with Snoopy on his back reading book atop doghouse. Bind fine, square; hinges intact. Preserved in the facsimile of first state dust wrapper; protected in fine clear sleeve. Rare near good first printing in fine facsimile wrapper. One of Stephen King's true classics, where he offers an interpretation of Bram Stoker's Dracula. In SK's second published novel he describes Salem's Lot as a town first touched by an evil and horrific murder-suicide involving a prominent citizen - and former hitman - named Hubie Marston. And, now overlooked by this empty and terrible house. The village has its collection of small-town secrets and moral corruptions, though, and is finally invaded by a Vampiric plague, starting with the shadowy new owner of the Marston House, Richard Straker, and his familiar, Kurt Barlow. Another new resident, writer Ben Mears who grew up in the town, joins with a local doctor, a teacher, and young Mark Petrie to fight against the town's demise. Salem's Lot knew darkness and the awful, heavy silence of terrifying images grotesquely dancing in and out of the shadows. Stark, white faces, huge, glowing eyes and long, gnarled hands that reached out with lustful insistence. The paralyzing fear of a diabolical corruption and hideous peril more dreadful than death. But, no one in Salem's Lot dared to speak of the high, sweet, evil laughter of a child, and the terrible sucking sounds... Apprx. 5 3/4" x 8 1/2" design. 439 pages. Insured post.. First Edition. Hardcover. Fair/Fine. Illus. by Christensen, Dave (Jacket Illustration). 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Book.