# Is "Fox in Socks" by Dr. Seuss a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1965) is identified by: First edition, first printing is Beginner Books code B-38, with Library of Congress card number 65-10484 on the title page and the original 195/195 price on the jacket front flap. US first (Random House Beginner Books, New York).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first printing is Beginner Books code B-38, with Library of Congress card number 65-10484 on the title page and the original 195/195 price on the jacket front flap
- The title is not listed among the Beginner Books on the rear panel, and the panel carries the earliest reading of the 'These books are listed in order of reading readiness' note
- Later states misspell the title as 'Fox in Sox' on the rear panel
- Note the 195/195 price alone is not proof of priority, as it recurs on later printings
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Dr. Seuss |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1965 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | First edition, first printing is Beginner Books code B-38, with Library of Congress card… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition, first printing is Beginner Books code B-38, with Library of Congress card number 65-10484 on the title page and the original 195/195 price on the jacket front flap. The title is not listed among the Beginner Books on the rear panel, and the panel carries the earliest reading of the 'These books are listed in order of reading readiness' note. Later states misspell the title as 'Fox in Sox' on the rear panel. Note the 195/195 price alone is not proof of priority, as it recurs on later printings.

## Is this the true first?
US first (Random House Beginner Books, New York).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the flap price and the B-38 code.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Fox in Socks* by Dr. Seuss a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/fox-in-socks
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.