FIRST EDITION OF HORTON HEARS A WHO!, WARMLY INSCRIBED BY DR. SEUSS

SEUSS, Dr. Horton Hears a Who! New York: Random House, (1954). Quarto, original pictorial red boards, original dust jacket. Housed in a custom slipcase. $9000.

First edition of Seuss' classic parable of tolerance, warmly inscribed: "For Betty and Bob with the very best of all Best Wishes—Dr. Seuss."

"Horton's persistence as the sole supporter of the tiny Whos, in the face of many others who think them so insignificant that it would mean nothing to do them harm, manages to change popular opinion in the Jungle of Nool. In the end, even the original detractors pledge to help protect the Whos, reinforcing the idea that even one voice can create change—not just on the small scale of the Whos' world, but in our world as well… Ted's work on 'The Sneetches' and Horton Hears a Who! during the summer and fall of 1953 was the 'one-two' of the blade he had learned to wield against intolerance" (Cohen, 220-21). First edition, with Horton's complete ear, tree with five branches, and cloud on both rear board and rear panel of dust jacket. Price correct at 250/250. Younger & Hirsch 32.

Book bright and near-fine, with only slight wear to extremities. Dust jacket with minimal rubbing to corners, faint soiling to rear panel and a few tape repairs to verso. A scarce and lovely inscribed copy.