"THE CIRCUS MCGURKUS! THE WORLD'S GREATEST SHOW ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, OR WHEREVER YOU GO!"

SEUSS, Dr. If I Ran the Circus. New York: Random House, (1956). Quarto, original pictorial paper boards, pictorial endpapers, original dust jacket. $2000.

First edition of this rhyming narrative about comically large aspirations for starting a circus.

A revision of a 1955 magazine piece, Seuss' romp under the Big Top introduces such compelling attractions as Rolf, the walrus who stands on one whisker; the punctuation mark-juggling Jott; and Great Daredevil Sneelock, who dives into a fishbowl from 4,692 feet up—"He'll manage just fine. Don't ask how he'll manage. That's his job. Not mine." Younger & Hirsch 43.

Book very nearly fine, price-clipped dust jacket near-fine, with a bit of wear and toning to extremities. A handsome near-fine copy.