Penguin First Editions :: Early First Edition Penguin Books

The EGYPTIAN PENGUINS were a small number of Penguin titles, which were published under licence in Egypt, for the troops in Cairo and Egypt. Until October 1942 the German and Axis forces led by Field Marshall Rommel maintained a strong position in North Africa. However, in an offensive under the command of General Montgomery, the Allied forces destroyed and expelled Rommel's forces at the battle of El Alamein which begun on 23 October 1942 and lasted for 20 days into November 1942. This battle gave a decisive victory to the Allies - the first such victory since the start of the war in Europe. The GHQ Middle East was based in Cairo and following the victory, many troops came to the capital to rest, recuperate, and move on. By the middle of the next year, the campaign had moved on to Sicily and few troops remained.

The Penguin Eyptian Editions were only produced for a short period - from 1942 to 1943. They were produced under licence - and the licence holder was W. Jeffery Eady, Penguin's 'Representative in Egypt'.

These books were printed in Egypt and were not differently covered books imported from Britain. Therefore the quality of the books, typeface, printing and binding was different and sometimes poorer. The spines of the books carry Penguin's original numbers. The books also contained local advertisements. At least 22 books, possibly 23, have been identified as published in Egypt.

Interestingly, many of the books were also printed in Egypt with different covers for sale in PALESTINE. At this stage we are unsure how many of the Egyptian books were also produced for the Palestinian market, some 14 of these are illustrated below.

Additionally, W. J. Eady published a title in French under the Édition Pingouin (Egyptian Edition) De Montmartre à Tripoli by André Glarner, intended to be read by the Free French troops also stationed in Egypt.

Information and cover photographs of Egyptian Penguins Series:

Egypt: 48	No.: 48 Title: A PASSAGE TO INDIA Author: E. M. Forster Date Published: 1942 Pages: 276pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in 12 June 1936 Image courtesy of David Edwards
Egypt: 260	No.: 260 Title: THE PENGUIN PROBLEMS BOOK Author: W.T. Williams and G. H. Savage Date Published: January 1943 Pages: 154pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in April 1940
Egypt: 316	No.: 316 Title: MODERN AMERICAN SHORT STORIES Selected: by Alan Steele and Joan Hancock Date Published: 1942 Pages: 126pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in March 1941
Egypt: 336	No.: 336 Title: FISHMONGER'S FIDDLE Author: A. E. Coppard Date Published: 1943 Pages: 214pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in July 1942 First image courtesy of David Edwards Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Second and third images courtesy of Ziv Gura. The last image is of the back cover.
Egypt: 337	No.: 337 Title: JUMPING JENNY Author: Anthony Berkeley Date Published: January 1943 Pages: 194pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in July 1942 First image courtesy of Andrew Malin Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Second image courtesy of David Edwards
Egypt: 352	No.: 352 Title: MODERN ONE-ACT PLAYS Edited: by John Ferguson Date Published: August 1943 Pages: 160pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in October 1942 Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Second and third images courtesy of Ziv Gura. The last image is of the back cover.
Egypt: 355	No.: 355 Title: THE NURSING-HOME MURDER Authors: by Ngaio Marsh and Dr. H. Jellett Date Published: August 1942 Pages: 184pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain on 12 March 1942 Image courtesy of David Edwards
Egypt: 365	No.: 365 Title: THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE Author: Stephen Crane Date Published: (not given) Pages: 128pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in July 1942 Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Second image courtesy of Joe Pearson
Egypt: 379	No.: 379 Title: DEATH OF A GHOST Author: Margery Allingham Date Published: Pages: Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in September 1942 Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Second and third images courtesy of Ziv Gura. The last image is of the back cover.
Egypt: 381	No.: 381 Title: ORLANDO Author: Virginia Woolf Date Published: 1943 Pages: 192pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in July 1942 Image courtesy of Andrew Malin Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Date Published: book states First Published in Penguin Books April 1942 (the printed date stated in main series) Second image courtesy of Jane Liddle
Egypt: 382	No.: 382 Title: MEET YOURSELF AS YOU REALLY ARE Authors: Prince Leopold Loewenstein and William Gerhardi Date Published: 1943 Pages: 224pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in May 1942 Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Second image courtesy of David Edwards
Egypt: 384	No.: 384 Title: WILLIAM COOK - ANTIQUE DEALER Author: Richard Keverne Date Published: 1943 Pages: 224pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in August 1942 Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Second and third images courtesy of Ziv Gura. The last image is of the back cover.
Egypt: 402	No.: 402 Title: PANIC PARTY Author: Anthony Berkeley Date Published: February 1943 Pages: 272pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in November 1942 Image courtesy of David Edwards Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Second image courtesy of Ziv Gura
Egypt: A5	No.: A5 Title: A SHORT HISTORY OF THE WORLD Author: H. G. Wells Date Published: November 1942 Pages: 304pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in May 1937 Image courtesy of David Edwards
Egypt: A86	No.: A86 Title: THE CHINESE Author: Winifred Galbraith Date Published: 1943 Pages: 148pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in March 1942 Image courtesy of Andrew Malin Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Second and third images courtesy of Ziv Gura. The last image is of the back cover.
Egypt: A88	No.: A88 Title: SCIENCE AND EVERYDAY LIFE Author: J. B. S. Haldane Date Published: 1943 Pages: 192pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in October 1941 Image courtesy of Andrew Malin
Egypt: A90	No.: A90 Title: LIVES OF THE GREAT COMPOSERS, Vol. 1 Edited: by A. L. Bacharach Date Published: 1943 Pages: 184pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in July 1942
Egypt: A101	No.: A101 Title: MEN OF AMERICA Author: Lionel Elvin Date Published: (not given) Pages: 224pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in January 1942 Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Second image courtesy of Ziv Gura
Egypt: NW13	This book is listed as having been published in Egypt. However, it may not have actually been published, and there are no known copies in existence. No.: NW13 Title: THE PENGUIN NEW WRITING - No. 13 Edited: by John Lehmann Date Published: Pages: Price: This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in June 1942
Egypt: S110	No.: S110 Title: HOW RUSSIA PREPARED Author: Maurice Edelman Date Published: 1943 Pages: 136pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in March 1942 Image courtesy of David Edwards Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Image courtesy of David Edwards
Egypt: S114	No.: S114 Title: AN A.B.C. OF THE PACIFIC Author: Dorothy Woodman Date Published: 1943 [printed date 1942] Pages: 208pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in August 1942 Palestine Copy This copy was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils Second and third images courtesy of Ziv Gura. The last image is of the back cover.
Egypt: S121	No.: S121 Title: SCIENCE AND WORLD ORDER Authors: J. G. Crowther, O. J. R. Howarth and D. P. Riley Date Published: 1943 Pages: 136pp. Price: P.T.6 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain in October 1942 Image courtesy of David Edwards Palestine Copy The copy shown was produced in Egypt but the cover is printed for sale in Palestine at price of 75 mils
Egypt: Édition Pingouin	ÉDITION PINGOUIN Title: DE MONTMARTRE À TRIPOLI Author: André Glarner Date Published: 1943 Pages: 240pp. Price: P.T.7

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