West With The Night First Edition
A first edition, first printing of West With The Night by Beryl Markham (Houghton Mifflin, 1942) is worth about $1,553 unsigned in near fine condition, and up to $4,959 signed, based on recorded sales. The first point to check: Title page: “Houghton Mifflin Company · Boston / The Riverside Press Cambridge / 1942” (dated 1942 under the imprint).
Market value · Unsigned, near fine
$1,553
Valued from 2 recorded sales in the last 12 months.
What a copy is worth
| Condition | Unsigned | Signed | Inscribed | Bookplate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine | $1,785 | $4,959 | $4,463 | $2,976 |
| Near fine | $1,553 | $4,313 | $3,881 | $2,588 |
| Very good | $1,320 | $3,750 | $3,375 | $2,250 |
| Good | — | $3,188 | $2,869 | $1,913 |
| Fair | — | $2,625 | $2,363 | $1,575 |
How to identify this edition
These points tell this edition apart from other printings and editions of West With The Night.
✓ Title page: “Houghton Mifflin Company · Boston / The Riverside Press Cambridge / 1942” (dated 1942 under the imprint)
✓ Copyright page: “Copyright, 1942, by Beryl Markham” and “The Riverside Press · Cambridge · Massachusetts · Printed in the U.S.A.”, with no printing statement
✓ Binding: green cloth lettered in black, “Houghton Mifflin Co.” at the foot of the spine
✓ Dust jacket: painted African plain with acacia trees under a blue sky, title in large brown script
✓ Price: $3.00 at the foot of the rear panel (unclipped); later printings kept it, so the price alone doesn't prove a first
Common questions
- How do I know if my copy of West With The Night is a first edition, first printing?
- ✓ Title page: “Houghton Mifflin Company · Boston / The Riverside Press Cambridge / 1942” (dated 1942 under the imprint) ✓ Copyright page: “Copyright, 1942, by Beryl Markham” and “The Riverside Press · Cambridge · Massachusetts · Printed in the U.S.A.”, with no printing statement ✓ Binding: green cloth lettered in black, “Houghton Mifflin Co.” at the foot of the spine ✓ Dust jacket: painted African plain with acacia… The identification points above show each one.
- How much is a first edition, first printing of West With The Night worth?
- $1,320–$1,785 unsigned, up to $4,959 signed, depending on condition and whether it is signed (values as of November 2026). Values come from recorded sales of this exact printing, not asking prices.
- Is a signed first edition, first printing of West With The Night worth more?
- Yes. In near fine condition a copy signed by Beryl Markham is valued at about $4,313, against $1,553 unsigned. A signature should be verified before you rely on that figure.
- Can I sell my copy of West With The Night?
- Yes. We value the exact copy from recorded sales and make a firm cash offer, free and with no obligation to sell.
Selling a copy?
We value the exact copy from recorded sales and make a firm cash offer, free and with no obligation. Get an offer.