The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss 1st Editions Points of Issue

There are millions of copies of The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss available. This write up will help you identify the key points to see if you have a first edition copy which can be worth thousands of dollars depending on condition. (Click here to see our halfvalue guide on book condition descriptions) . 

If you find this guide helpful please vote yes at the bottom of this page, if you don't please let me know how I can improve it.  Thanks.

 
Important note: a "/" means that the next word or sentence is on the next line.

Title Page: THE CAT / IN / THE / HAT By / Dr. Seuss / RANDOM HOUSE
Author: Dr. Seuss
Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
Publisher: Random House
Date: On Title Page - None; On Copyright Page - 1957
Edition Statement: None
Binding Size: Height 9 1/4 - Width 6 3/4
Binding Material: Dust Jacket has flat not glazed or shiny paper on boards.
Spine Text: THE CAT IN THE HAT (in white lettering), Dr. Seuss (in red lettering),
                    RANDOM HOUSE (in black lettering)
Front Cover Board: Same as dust Jacket
Back Cover Board: Same as dust Jacket
Price of Book: 200/200 on the upper right corner of the front flap of the dust jacket.
Pagination: 61 numbered pages, the last page of text has the story about the Cat in the Hat bordered by a blue hat shaped drawing.
Collation: Pictorial end papers, with blank free end pages, pictorial title page. Copyright page reads and is formatted as follows:

 
 

Dust Jacket Points of Issue:

Front Cover: THE CAT / IN / THE / HAT (in white lettering) / FOR / BEGINNING / READERS (outlined in a red circle with black lettering) / By Dr. Seuss (in red lettering) - a black and white and red picture of the Cat in the Hat frames the left side of the front cover.
Spine: THE CAT IN THE HAT (in white lettering) Dr. Seuss (in red lettering) RANDOM HOUSE (in black lettering)
Front Flap: 200/200 in the upper right corner in black lettering / "I can spell CAT (in red lettering) / 28 lines of text in black lettering, the first line is, "Isn't that the way your small fry gave" and the last line is "can be fun!" / THE CAT IN THE HAT (in red lettering) / written and illustrated by / DR. SEUSS (in black lettering) / (logo of a building in black) / RANDOM HOUSE (in black lettering)
Back Flap: (black and white photo of Dr. Seuss, with white border) copyright San Diego Union Tribune (in white lettering along the right side of the photo) / DR. SEUSS (in red lettering) / 28 lines of text in black lettering, the first line is, "From earliest youth, Dr. Seuss wanted to" and the last line is, "anxious to read."
Back Cover: Written in white lettering on a chalkboard, "Educators hail The CAT in the HAT* / Four paragraphs with 16 lines of black lettered text / A red asterisk followed by the text in front quotes but no ending quotes "The CAT in the HAT / written and illustrated by DR. SEUSS - On the left bottom side of the back cover is a reproduction of the front cover / A black rule line / RANDOM HOUSE - 457 Madison Ave. - New York 22 N.Y.

Special Notes:
The CAT in the HAT has several variation in the early printings.

1st State: Flat paper boards with 200/200 price on the front flap of the dust jacket with educator reviews on the back cover of the book and dust jacket and no mention of Beginner Book Series. The paper has a light cream color.

2nd State: Same as above except for the following exceptions no price of 200/200 on the dust jacket front flap. Paper is whiter when compared to the first printing.

3rd State: Glazed boards and dust jacket with price of 195/195 on the dust jacket front flap (yes the price went down!), still no mention of the Beginner Book Series.

 
4th State: Glazed boards and dust jacket with price of 195/195 on the dust jacket front flap with Beginner Books listed as series.

Facsimile 1st Edition: The date on the copyright page reads 1957, 1985 - Dust Jacket has: Printed in the U.S.A. - at the base of the back flap of the dust jacket.