The points of issue
First edition: Simon & Schuster 1939; first issue is the larger format with first-state jacket lacking the Caldecott Honor mention (Honor 1940) and priced the printed price. Copyright page shows 1939 and no later-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster is the true first. The pre-award jacket and 1939 dating mark the first issue; the book is notoriously hard to find in a fine first-issue jacket.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club and later printings reduce the trim, add award mentions, drop the price, and add a board blind-stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Madeline a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition: Simon & Schuster 1939; first issue is the larger format with first-state jacket lacking the Caldecott Honor mention (Honor 1940) and priced the printed price. Copyright page shows 1939 and no later-printing statement.
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 Simon & Schuster is the true first. The pre-award jacket and 1939 dating mark the first issue; the book is notoriously hard to find in a fine first-issue jacket.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club and later printings reduce the trim, add award mentions, drop the price, and add a board blind-stamp.
I have a first edition of Madeline — 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.