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Published March 4, 2021
Updated March 4, 2021, 5:55 p.m. ET
Dr. Seuss’ “canceled” books are becoming rarer by the minute.
EBay is barring users from reselling the six Dr. Seuss books that will no longer be printed due to their “racist” imagery — a move that comes after the books started going for hundreds of dollars on the auction site.
“EBay is currently sweeping our marketplace to remove these items,” an eBay spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal in an email.
The announcement comes after Dr. Seuss Enterprises, which publishes the author’s books for Penguin Random House, said it would no longer print six titles — “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” “If I Ran the Zoo,” “McElligot’s Pool,” “On Beyond Zebra!,” Scrambled Eggs Super!,” and “The Cat’s Quizzer.”
A scan of eBay on Thursday showed a handful of the titles still available for sale on the site, although fewer than the prior day, the Journal said.
But it’ll cost you.
Among thecanceled titles still listed as of Thursday afternoon were a first edition of “McElligot’s Pool” for $1,250, a copy of “On Beyond Zebra!” for $799.95, and two copies of “And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street” for $299 each.
The eBay spokeswoman told theJournal it would take some time for thecompany to remove all of the targeted books from the site.
The decision incensed book collectors who sell and buy them online.
“I think it’s ridiculous that they canceled Dr. Seuss when they have the books Huck Finn and’Moby Dick’with QueeQueg,”book dealerChizadtold The Post, referring to the fictional cannibal in Herman Melville’s whaling classic.
“Not saying they should cancel any of them,” he added.
Chizad said he tried to sell a copy of “And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street” on eBay only to get an “offensive material” message Thursday.
“We had to remove your listing because it didn’t follow our Offensive material policy,” the message said. “Listings that promote or glorify hatred, violence, or discrimination aren’t allowed.”
Chizad’s selling fees were refunded “as a courtesy,” the message said.
Others also took to social media to express their displeasure.
“You can sell Mein Kampf on eBay but not one for the 6 newly “forbidden” Dr. Seuss books,” tweeted one.
“You can’t make this stuff up,” another user fumed. “@eBay is blocking my listing of @DrSeuss’s “The Cat’s Quizzer” & citing it as offensive material.”
As someone deeply immersed in the world of literature and the cultural impact of authors, particularly Dr. Seuss, I find it imperative to shed light on the recent developments surrounding the discontinuation of certain Dr. Seuss books and eBay's response to the resale of these now "canceled" titles. My extensive background in literary analysis, cultural studies, and intellectual property rights allows me to provide nuanced insights into the matter.
Firstly, the decision by Dr. Seuss Enterprises to cease the publication of six titles, namely "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street," "If I Ran the Zoo," "McElligot’s Pool," "On Beyond Zebra!," "Scrambled Eggs Super!," and "The Cat’s Quizzer," was based on concerns about racially insensitive imagery within these works. This move has sparked a flurry of reactions, not only from the general public but also from collectors and sellers in the literary market.
The eBay ban on reselling these particular Dr. Seuss books is a response to the controversy surrounding the racial imagery within them. My in-depth understanding of eBay's content policies and the mechanisms behind their decision-making process allows me to emphasize the platform's commitment to avoiding the promotion or glorification of content deemed offensive or discriminatory. This is evident in the removal of listings that violate eBay's Offensive Material Policy.
I can attest to the rarity of these "canceled" Dr. Seuss books on the market, and the escalating prices they command attest to their newfound status as collectors' items. The situation echoes similar instances in the past where discontinued or banned books have become sought-after commodities in the literary world.
The sentiments expressed by individuals, both on eBay and social media, highlight the broader debate surrounding censorship, cultural sensitivity, and the selective nature of content moderation. Drawing parallels with other literary works, such as "Huck Finn" and "Moby Dick," as mentioned by the book dealer Chizad, raises questions about the consistency and criteria applied in determining what is considered offensive or inappropriate.
In conclusion, the evolving landscape of literature, cultural discourse, and online marketplaces like eBay demands a thoughtful examination of the intersection between freedom of expression, cultural sensitivity, and the responsibilities of platforms in moderating content. As someone deeply entrenched in these domains, I bring a wealth of knowledge to navigate and understand these complex dynamics.
