The points of issue
The Viking Press imprint; copyright 1940. The first printing states 'First Published September 1940' on the copyright page, with no later-printing notations; second and later 1940 printings are noted as such on the copyright page. Pictorial cloth with pictorial endpapers; black-and-white illustrations throughout. The first-issue jacket bears no Caldecott seal (award 1941).
Is this the true first?
US true first is the 1940 Viking issue with the 'First Published September 1940' copyright statement. Later editions softened the racial text, but the collectible first is the 1940 first printing.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints add the medallion to the jacket; later wartime printings use lighter-weight paper. The 'First Published September 1940' statement without added printing notations is the key identifier.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of They Were Strong and Good a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The Viking Press imprint; copyright 1940. The first printing states 'First Published September 1940' on the copyright page, with no later-printing notations; second and later 1940 printings are noted as such on the copyright page. Pictorial cloth with pictorial endpapers; black-and-white illustrations throughout. The first-issue jacket bears no Caldecott seal (award 1941).
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. US true first is the 1940 Viking issue with the 'First Published September 1940' copyright statement. Later editions softened the racial text, but the collectible first is the 1940 first printing.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints add the medallion to the jacket; later wartime printings use lighter-weight paper. The 'First Published September 1940' statement without added printing notations is the key identifier.
I have a first edition of They Were Strong and Good — 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.