Thidwick The Big-Hearted Moose.

SEUSS, Dr. [Theodor Seuss Geisel].

Item Number: 135709

New York: Random House, 1948.

First edition, later printing of one of the more elusive Seuss titles. Quarto, original blue cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated by the author. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the dedication page, “[Extra Moose Moss for Helen] And some Extra Moose Moss for Blair… from Dr. Seuss WHAT..? No Moose Moss? Here’s some more Dr. Seuss.” Seuss has added an original drawing of moose moss. Very good in a very good price-clipped second state dust jacket. Loss to the dedication page and inscription. Rare signed and inscribed by Seuss.

A hilarious burlesque on hospitality taken too far, Thidwick follows the story of a friendly moose whose sense of decency compels him to forgo the comforts of herd life in favor of indulging the comfort of a growing guests residing on his antlers. An exploration of the limits of hospitality and sharing, the work has been examined as a parable of immigration issues and the social welfare state and as an exemplification of the idea of property rights, and particularly of John Locke's formulation of property rights. "A man of less consistency than Seuss would have let Thidwick be rescued by the creatures he is befriending ... but Seuss' logic is rooted in principle, rather than sentiment, and the sponging animals get what they deserve. Incidentally, this is also what the child expects" (The New York Times Book Review).