The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck Value Guide

Published in 1942 by The Viking Press, The Moon Is Down is a significant piece of WWII literature that served as powerful propaganda for European resistance movements. This John Steinbeck novel is highly collectible due to its historical impact and its status as a work by a Nobel Prize laureate.

What Is The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck Worth?

The typical price range for The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck is $30 - $60 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The presence and condition of the original 1942 dust jacket significantly impacts the $30-$60 price range.
• Overall physical condition, including spine fading, foxing on the paper, or fraying of the blue cloth boards.
• Provenance or evidence of being an early printing, as the book was widely distributed during the war years.
• The presence of any inscriptions or markings, which can either detract from or add to the historical value.

How to Identify The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck?

• Verify the publisher is listed as The Viking Press with a 1942 date on the title page.
• Look for the original blue cloth binding with silver lettering on the spine and front cover.
• Check for the presence of a first-issue dust jacket, which originally featured a $2.00 price clip.
• Confirm the absence of later printing notations on the copyright page to ensure first edition status.

History of The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck

Published in 1942, 'The Moon Is Down' is a compelling novel by Nobel Prize laureate John Steinbeck. It recounts the story of a small, unnamed town in Northern Europe occupied by the army of an aggressor nation during World War II. The book was a powerful piece of propaganda during the war, translated and distributed underground in occupied Europe to inspire resistance. Its portrayal of human dignity and resistance against oppression resonated deeply with audiences worldwide, cementing its place as an important work of wartime literature.