Madeline (1939)

First Edition Identification

Madeline, written & illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans; Viking, 1939

1940 Caldecott Honor Award 

Children’s Picturebook Price Guide Value:  $4,000 VG+ 

Essential identifying point
Title page:  Line with “Simon & Schuster” followed by line with “1939.” 

Non-essential
DJ flap price "$2.00" 

The myth has propagated on the internet that the first printing book includes an error that was corrected in subsequent printings, with 12 girls ‘breaking bread’ instead of 11 (with Madeline in the hospital, there is supposed to be only 11 girls dining).  This “12 girl error” was used in many, many subsequent printings, and is therefore not a method to identifying a true first printing.