In a fluorescent display device having control electrodes and anodes, each anode having an anode electrode and a fluorescent layer formed thereon, a filament is installed between the control electrodes and the anode electrodes. When an anode is selected to be turned on to emit light, a first voltage (V1) is applied to the filament, a second voltage (V2) is applied to the selected anode and a third voltage (V3) is applied to a control electrode facing the selected anode, wherein V2 is greater than V1 and V3 is equal to or greater than V1. When a voltage applied to a target control electrode is lower than a voltage applied to the filament by more than a predetermined voltage difference, an anode facing the target control electrode is not turned on to emit light even when V2 is applied thereto.