The points of issue
First edition: Viking 1962; first-issue dust jacket with no Caldecott Medal (won 1963) and price the printed price. Copyright page has no later-printing statement and bears the Library of Congress number for 1962.
Is this the true first?
US Viking is the true first. The pre-Caldecott jacket (no gold medal) is the defining first-issue point — relaunch jackets added the medal after the 1963 award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions add the Caldecott Medal to the jacket, omit the price, are reduced in size, and carry a blind-stamp on the rear board.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Snowy Day a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition: Viking 1962; first-issue dust jacket with no Caldecott Medal (won 1963) and price the printed price. Copyright page has no later-printing statement and bears the Library of Congress number for 1962.
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 gold medal) is the defining first-issue point — relaunch jackets added the medal after the 1963 award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions add the Caldecott Medal to the jacket, omit the price, are reduced in size, and carry a blind-stamp on the rear board.
I have a first edition of The Snowy Day — 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.