# Is "Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose" by Dr. Seuss a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1948) is identified by: First printing has an eight-line copyright notice that includes the lithographer credit (Oberly & Newell); later printings drop the lithographer line and run seven lines. US Random House first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing has an eight-line copyright notice that includes the lithographer credit (Oberly & Newell); later printings drop the lithographer line and run seven lines
- The first-issue dust jacket carries the original 200/200 price code on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Dr. Seuss |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1948 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | First printing has an eight-line copyright notice that includes the lithographer credit… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First printing has an eight-line copyright notice that includes the lithographer credit (Oberly & Newell); later printings drop the lithographer line and run seven lines. The first-issue dust jacket carries the original 200/200 price code on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US Random House first edition. Identify the first printing by the eight-line copyright with lithographer credit and the 200/200 first-issue jacket.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later states drop the lithographer credit and run a seven-line copyright; price-clipped or unpriced jackets and reprint copyright pages indicate later issue.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose* by Dr. Seuss a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/thidwick-the-big-hearted-moose
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.