First Edition Identification
Dr. Seuss Beginner Books B-04
1958 The Big Jump and Other Stories
1958 B-04 The Big Jump and Other Stories
Benjamin Elkin. Katherine Evans (Illustrator). The Big Jump and Other Stories. New York. Beginner Books: 1958.
Pages#: 64 pages.
Book Description: Color illustrated boards wrapped in matching dust jacket. The 4th book in the groundbreaking Beginner Book series, written specifically to help children learn to read while simultaneously engaging and entertaining them. The book includes three stories about the young boy Ben and his friend the King. Told using only 207 different words.
Pagination: Front fixed and free endpapers illustrated in color; [i] title; [ii] copyright; 3-64 story; 65 blank recto of back free endpaper is numbered; back free and fixed endpaper illustrated in color.
Collectibility Context
The first edition book in its original first edition DJ is a Very Collectible: Early book in ground breaking Beginner Books series, which changed the way children learned to read in America. Embraced by the public for 66 years with hundreds of thousands of copies sold. The author and illustrator are highly successful in the children’s book market with decades of success between them. Katherine Evans is better known for illustrating the 1946 classic ‘The Littlest Angel’ written by Charles Tazewell. Little pop culture appeal.
The Collectibility of a first edition American picturebook is comprised of specific factors, as explained in detail at Factors Affecting Collectibility.
| Scarcity | Collect ibility | Illust. | 1st Early Late | Author | Awards | Pop Culture | Copies Sold | Fran chise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 10 |
Scarcity Context
The first edition book in its original first edition DJ is Uncommon: There were 4 first editions found in the March 2024 survey, with an average price of $83, ranging from $125 to $50.
First Edition Book & Dust Jacket Descriptions
Book Front: Bound in glossy yellow paper covered boards with color illustration. “THE BIG JUMP / AND OTHER STORIES / [color illustration] / [FOR BEGINNING READERS Logo] / By Benjamin Elkin / Illustrated by Katherine Evans”
Note: Click on any of the book’s images to see at larger scale.
Book Back: Bound in illustrated paper covered boards. “What are Beginner Books? / They are the answer to millions of parents … […paragraph] / [FOR BEGINNING READERS Logo] / BEGIN YOUR CHILD’S LIBRARY WITH / THESE BEGINNER BOOKS! / [Bennett Cerf signature] / President of Random House / [Chalkboard graphic with six books listed as follows.] / 1. The Cat in the Hat / 2. The Cat in the Hat Comes Back / 3. A Fly Went By / 4. The Big Jump / A Big Ball of String / Sam and the Firefly / AT ALL BOOK STORES $1.95 / Beginner Books, Inc. / Distributed by RANDOM HOUSE, 437 Madison Ave. New York 22, N.Y. / Trademark of Beginner Books, Inc. [very small text at bottom left]”
Book Spine: “THE BIG JUMP and Other Stories Elkin BEGINNER BOOKS, INC.”
Title Page: “The Big Jump / and Other Stories / Written By Benjamin Elkin / Illustrated by Katherine Evans / Beginner Books, Inc. / DISTRIBUTED BY RANDOM HOUSE / [color illustration]”
Copyright: “First Printing / (c) Copyright, 1958, by Benjamin Elkin / All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright / Conventions. Published in New York by Beginner Books, Inc., and / simultaneously in Toronto, Canada, by Random House of Canada, Limited. / Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 58-13127. Manufactured in the United States of America.”
DJ Front: Color illustration matching book front. “THE BIG JUMP / AND OTHER STORIES / [color illustration] / [FOR BEGINNING READERS Logo] / By Benjamin Elkin / Illustrated by Katherine Evans”
DJ Back: Beginner Books DJ Back ‘B’: 1958 6 Titles
“What are Beginner Books? / They are the answer to millions of parents and educators who have begged … […paragraph] / [FOR BEGINNING READERS’ logo] / BEGIN YOUR CHILD’S LIBRARY WITH THESE BEGINNER BOOKS / [Bennett Cerf Signature] / Bennett Cerf / President of Random House / [Chalkboard with numbered list of first 6 Beginner Books] / AT ALL BOOK STORES $1.94 / Beginner Books, Inc. / Distributed by RANDOM HOUSE, 457 Madison Ave., New York 22, N. Y.” [Note: lacks ‘Trademark of Beginner Books, Inc.’ bottom left.]
DJ Spine: “THE BIG JUMP and Other Stories Elkin BEGINNER BOOKS, INC.”
DJ Price: 1.95
DJ Flap Front: “$1.95 [top right] / [Beginner Books Logo] / The Big Jump / and Other Stories / When a child in the first of second grade … [… paragraph] / Take this book — The Big Jump and … […paragraph] / Benjamin Elkin used only 207 differ- … [… paragraph] / *Trademark of Beginner Books, Inc. [very small black text bottom of flap]”
DJ Flap Back: “[Benjamin Elkin photograph] / [Benjamin Elkin biography] / [Katherine Evans photograph] / [Katherine Evans biography]”
First Edition Identification
First edition book states ‘First Printing’ on the copyright page.
First edition dust jacket is Beginner Books 1958 DJ ‘B’ with six titles listed,
Note: I have books stated ‘First Printing’ with and without ‘B-4’ on the DJ spine. The ‘First Printing’ book without ‘B-4’ on the DJ spine has precedence. The ‘First Printing’ books with ‘B-4’ on the DJ spine are a mixed state, and earlier than the second printings discussed below.
Second Printings and Later
Second printing book omits ‘First Printing’ statement on the copyright page, otherwise is identical to first printing.
Second printing DJ is identical to first printing with no ‘B-4’ on the spine.
Third printing book states ‘Third Printing’ on the copyright page.
Third printing DJ is identical to first printing but with ‘B-4’ on the spine.
Fourth printing book front cover omits the ‘FOR BEGINNING READERS’ logo, omits ‘First Printing’ statement on the copyright page, and the back cover is blank.
Fourth printing DJ changes the logo on the front cover, back cover, and front flap from ‘FOR BEGINNING READERS’ to the more familiar ‘Beginner Books’ logo with the encircled ‘Cat In The Hat’ and ‘You can read this all by yourself’.
The Big Jump 3rd-to-4th Printing Logo Change \
Note: The back dust jacket on all these printings have only the six Beginner Books listed on the chalkboard – this implies that these were printed prior to the 1959 titles being released.
The Big Jump 3rd-to-4th Printing Logo Change \
See First Fifty Beginner Books for first edition identification of the first 50 Beginner Books.
See Beginner Books Dust Jacket Backs to see the chronological sequence of the Beginner Books dust jackets.
All of this information is sourced from the First Edition Identification Guide: Beginner Books (2024, Flying Moose Books), by Stan Zielinski.