The points of issue
First edition, first printing, Chapman & Hall 1960. Octavo in blue cloth with gilt spine title, in pictorial dust jacket; frontispiece plus eight pages of photographic plates. Waugh's last travel book, a diary of an East African tour.
Is this the true first?
Chapman & Hall (London) is the true first. A US edition followed from Little, Brown in 1960.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Tourist in Africa a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, Chapman & Hall 1960. Octavo in blue cloth with gilt spine title, in pictorial dust jacket; frontispiece plus eight pages of photographic plates. Waugh's last travel book, a diary of an East African tour.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. Chapman & Hall (London) is the true first. A US edition followed from Little, Brown in 1960.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of A Tourist in Africa — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.