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