The Little Match Girl
by Hans Christian Andersen, Bill Bowler
The Little Match Girl (Danish: Den lille Pige med Svovlstikkerne) is a short tale by Hans Christian Andersen, first published in December 1845 in the almanac Dansk Folkekalender for 1846. On a freezing New Year's Eve, a poor girl lights her unsold matches for warmth and sees comforting visions.
- Editions tracked
- 2
The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen was first published in 1845. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- Grosset & Dunlap1944 Hardback I own The Little Match Girl, Grosset & Dunlap 1944 Log in to want this
- Gallery Books1980 Hardback I own The Little Match Girl, Gallery Books 1980 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 37 on Open Library, 25 in English
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of The Little Match Girl are there?
We track 2 editions of The Little Match Girl. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
When was The Little Match Girl first published?
The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen, Bill Bowler was first published in 1845.
Where these facts come from
- The Little Match Girl, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Hans Christian Andersen bibliography, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 7 November 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.
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