# Is "You're Only Old Once!" by Dr. Seuss a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of You're Only Old Once! by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1986) is identified by: First printing is identified by the full number line on the copyright page with the 1 intact, issued in laminated boards with the first-issue pictorial dust jacket bearing the original front-flap price. US first, Random House, 1986.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing is identified by the full number line on the copyright page with the 1 intact, issued in laminated boards with the first-issue pictorial dust jacket bearing the original front-flap price
- Full title: You're Only Old Once! A Book for Obsolete Children
- Published on Seuss's 82nd birthday, 2 March 1986
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Dr. Seuss |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1986 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | First printing is identified by the full number line on the copyright page with the 1… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing is identified by the full number line on the copyright page with the 1 intact, issued in laminated boards with the first-issue pictorial dust jacket bearing the original front-flap price. Full title: You're Only Old Once! A Book for Obsolete Children. Published on Seuss's 82nd birthday, 2 March 1986.

## Is this the true first?
US first, Random House, 1986. Verify the complete number line (the 1 present) on the copyright page.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings show the number line advanced past 1. Book-club copies commonly lack the jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *You're Only Old Once!* by Dr. Seuss a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/youre-only-old-once
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.