# Is "Summer of the Swans" by Betsy Byars a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars (The Viking Press, 1970) is identified by: First edition published 1970 by The Viking Press, New York. United States true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition published 1970 by The Viking Press, New York
- The true first printing states First published in 1970 by The Viking Press on the copyright page; some copies additionally show a number line ending in 1
- Illustrated by Ted CoConis; cloth with swans stamped on the front board, in a pictorial dust jacket; first-state jacket lacks the Newbery seal
- Publisher imprint reads The Viking Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Betsy Byars |
| Publisher | The Viking Press |
| Year | 1970 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | First edition published 1970 by The Viking Press, New York |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition published 1970 by The Viking Press, New York. The true first printing states First published in 1970 by The Viking Press on the copyright page; some copies additionally show a number line ending in 1. Illustrated by Ted CoConis; cloth with swans stamped on the front board, in a pictorial dust jacket; first-state jacket lacks the Newbery seal.

## Is this the true first?
United States true first. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1971, so first-printing jackets predate the seal.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Viking printings add further printing statements or advance the number line. Book-club copies lack a printed jacket price; post-award jackets add the Newbery seal.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Summer of the Swans* by Betsy Byars a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/summer-of-the-swans
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.