Dr. Seuss, First Editions, and First Book!

“In my world, everyone’s a pony and they all eat rainbows and poop butterflies!”

What does owning a “first edition” Dr. Seuss book really mean? It’s not something I’d ever really thought about until last night during our Bedtime Stories event at our Denver mattress store hosted by Denver nonprofit First Book.

I had the privilege of borrowing a First Edition of Dr. Seuss’s “Sleep Book” from Bob Topp at The Hermitage bookshop, which he is selling for $350.  My first thought upon receiving this book was “I am not letting this get snowed on when I step outside” and my next was “$350?! Why?”

I will tell you why.  Owning a first edition book means that the first time that book was offered for sale was THE FIRST TIME anyone was ever able to purchase that book.  Compared to some first edition Dr. Seuss’s – which are valued up to $12,000 (!) – Mr. Topp’s price is a steal.

After reading Seuss out loud to the kids, I have to say that whether or not it’s a first edition, the feeling that you get is priceless.

Have you ever read a Dr. Seuss book?

“If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.”

-Dr. Seuss