# Is "Horton Hatches the Egg" by Dr. Seuss a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1940) is identified by: First printing bound in pale yellow/cream cloth. US Random House 1940 is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing bound in pale yellow/cream cloth
- Copyright page reads 'Copyright 1940 by Dr
- Seuss,' notes distribution in Canada by Macmillan, and states 'Lithographed in the United States of America,' with no later-printing statement
- First-issue pictorial dust jacket has the rear panel carrying reader testimonials that reference only earlier titles, with no later Seuss titles advertised
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Dr. Seuss |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1940 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | First printing bound in pale yellow/cream cloth |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing bound in pale yellow/cream cloth. Copyright page reads 'Copyright 1940 by Dr. Seuss,' notes distribution in Canada by Macmillan, and states 'Lithographed in the United States of America,' with no later-printing statement. First-issue pictorial dust jacket has the rear panel carrying reader testimonials that reference only earlier titles, with no later Seuss titles advertised.

## Is this the true first?
US Random House 1940 is the true first. Verify via the copyright-page state, the yellow cloth binding, and the rear-jacket testimonial panel rather than the printed jacket price alone.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club and later printings add printing notations and advertise later Seuss titles on the jacket; the earliest-title jacket list and copyright-page state are the surest guides.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Horton Hatches the Egg* by Dr. Seuss a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/horton-hatches-the-egg
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.