# Is "Madeline" by Ludwig Bemelmans a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (Simon & Schuster, 1939) is identified by: First edition: Simon & Schuster 1939; first issue is the larger format with first-state jacket lacking the Caldecott Honor mention (Honor 1940) and with its printed price. US Simon & Schuster is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition: Simon & Schuster 1939; first issue is the larger format with first-state jacket lacking the Caldecott Honor mention (Honor 1940) and with its printed price
- Copyright page shows 1939 and no later-printing statement
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ludwig Bemelmans |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1939 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | First edition: Simon & Schuster 1939; first issue is the larger format with first-state jacket lacking the Caldecott Honor mention (Honor… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## 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 with its 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Madeline* by Ludwig Bemelmans a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/madeline
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.