The points of issue
First edition: Viking 1941; first issue is the larger trim oblong folio with the first-state jacket lacking the Caldecott Medal (won 1942) and priced the printed price. Copyright page shows no later-printing statement.
Is this the true first?
US Viking is the true first. The pre-Caldecott jacket (no medal) and the printed price mark the first issue; later jackets carry the gold medal.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club and later printings add the Caldecott Medal, drop the price, reduce the trim, and add a board blind-stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Make Way for Ducklings a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition: Viking 1941; first issue is the larger trim oblong folio with the first-state jacket lacking the Caldecott Medal (won 1942) and priced the printed price. Copyright page shows 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 Viking is the true first. The pre-Caldecott jacket (no medal) and the printed price mark the first issue; later jackets carry the gold medal.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club and later printings add the Caldecott Medal, drop the price, reduce the trim, and add a board blind-stamp.
I have a first edition of Make Way for Ducklings — 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.