The Amazing Advertising Artwork of Dr. Seuss

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A post over on The Millions tipped us off to this fantastic treasure trove of ads that Theodore Seuss Geisel illustrated for major companies like NBC, General Electric, and Ford long before he would become a famous children’s book author later in life. Click through for a slideshow of some of our favorite examples of his advertising artwork — many, illustrations which feature earlier versions of his most beloved characters — that we pulled from the University of California, San Diego’s incredible Dr. Seuss Collection.

Schaeffer Bock Beer advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

General Electric advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

National Broadcasting Company Brochure, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

National Broadcasting Company Brochure, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Ajax Cups advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Flit advertisement proof, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Holly Sugar advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Holly Sugar advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Standard Oil Company – Essomarine advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Standard Oil Company – Essolube advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Ford Motor Company advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Ford Motor Company advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Contractor postal cards, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Contractor postal cards, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Daggett and Ramsdell advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Daggett and Ramsdell advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

New Departure Ball Bearing Company advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Snyder and Black Incorporated advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Warren Telechron Company advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD

Warren Telechron Company advertisement, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230, Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD