Children’s books aren’t really my area of knowledge – I know more about poetry, modern literature and the Beat Generation. 
But sometimes folks email me about Dr. Seuss books, which are notoriously difficult to identify as first editions.
Here are some books and online resources which will help you find out if your Dr. Seuss books are first editions.
Dr. Seuss Books: A Guide to First Editions, is a very thorough guide to identifying these books. However, it is very expensive (around $150 or so). Your local library may have it, or be able to have it sent from another libary. There’s more information here:
- Info & purchasing directly from the book’s publisher, AlephBet Books
- First Editions of Dr. Seuss Books: A Guide to Identification, at Amazon.com
Another book is the Children’s Picturebook Price Guide. Though published in 2007, it is still a very useful resource for identifying first editions –
including Seuss books – and getting some idea of retail value. You can buy it for about $25, or again, the library may have it.
There are some online Seuss book resources, which you’ll find helpful, too:
- Dr. Seuss at 1stedition.net
- Dr. Seuss 1st Ed. Identification Points at 1stedition.net>
- Info on Dr. Seuss first editions from modernfirsteditions.net
- Info on Seuss first editions from lfmbooks.com
One thing to keep in mind with price guides is that the prices usually refer to books in very good (VG) or fine (F) condition, the conditions collectors most desire. (These terms have very specific meanings to book collectors – see my article on book condition grading for details.)
Many children’s books are in lesser – fair or good (G) – condition. This is because the books have typically been bumped, dropped, spilled on, drawn on, torn, dogeeared, dustjacket lost, etc. They may also be ex-library books. So it is important to assess the condition of the books you own. Children’s books in very good or fine condition are so much more difficult to find than those in good condition, and it is those which may reach the peak prices noted in the price guides. Books in good condition will sell for dramatically less than those in very good or fine condition.
