Ludwig Bemelmans
81 copies for sale · $19–$35,000 · 29 first editions · 12 signed
Notable copies for sale
Hotel Splendide (first edition, signed) — Burnside Rare Books$1,250
The Golden Basket (first edition, signed) — B & B Rare Books$1,200
Madeline (first edition, signed) — Burnside Rare Books$12,500
Venetian Church on a Moonlit Night (signed) — James Cummins Bookseller$35,000
Madeline and the Bad Hat (signed) — Riverrun Books & Manuscripts$350
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (first edition, signed) — James Cummins Bookseller$450
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (first edition, signed) — James Cummins Bookseller$375
Sunshine: A Story About the City of New York (first edition) — Honey & Wax Booksellers$250
MADELINE'S CHRISTMAS (first edition) — Type Punch Matrix$250
MADELINE IN LONDON (first edition) — Type Punch Matrix$175
MARINA (first edition) — Type Punch Matrix$150
Madeline (first edition) — Burnside Rare Books$4,500
What these are worth
Madeline's Rescue5 copies from 3 sellers
Each page gathers every copy on the market, what similar copies have fetched, and the spread between them.
Works on the market
MADELINE12 copies · $19–$3,500
NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP4 copies · $43–$450
THE WOMAN OF MY LIFE4 copies · €43–€48
MADELINE AND THE BAD HAT3 copies · $43–$1,250
MADELINE'S CHRISTMAS3 copies · $53–$173
Madeline2 copies · $4,500–$12,500
Madeline2 copies · $275–$3,250
Fifi2 copies · $1,250–$3,000
Fifi2 copies · $2,500–$3,000
THE DONKEY INSIDE2 copies · $43–$278
MADELINE'S RESCUE2 copies · $43–$200
The World of Bemelmans by Ludwig Bemelmans2 copies · $101
THE BLUE DANUBE2 copies · $25–$98
MARINA2 copies · $98
DIRTY EDDIE2 copies · $40–$58
MADELINE AND THE GYPSIES2 copies · $20–$43
Venetian Church on a Moonlit Night1 copy · $35,000
Typed Letter, signed “Ludwig” , to Viking editor Marshall Best, “here comes some weird nig1 copy · $4,500
Madeline1 copy · $2,200
Market context
30 copies of Ludwig Bemelmans's works have left the market recently; the median last-listed price was $58 (last listed prices at time of sale or removal, not confirmed sale prices).
Recent auction results (hammer prices, premiums not included):
Fifi, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, New York, 1940. (forum, 2026-07-02)£360
Listings aggregated from rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide; refreshed continually. Prices are seller asking prices unless marked as auction results.