The points of issue
First printing identified by the Algonquin number line and by the first-state text reading 'a T-shirt with a pocket' on page 164 (later states alter this passage). First-issue jacket priced on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US first edition (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill). Edgerton's second novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are blind-stamped and lack the flap price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Walking Across Egypt a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing identified by the Algonquin number line and by the first-state text reading 'a T-shirt with a pocket' on page 164 (later states alter this passage). First-issue jacket priced on the front flap.
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. US first edition (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill). Edgerton's second novel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions are blind-stamped and lack the flap price.
I have a first edition of Walking Across Egypt — 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.