1979 | Serpent in the Sky | John Anthony West | First Edition Hardcover | Ancient Egypt

This exact 1979 first edition is much more collectible than later paperback editions. A bookseller currently has a first edition in very good condition with a dust jacket priced at about $90, while the same listing appears on AbeBooks around $106.

Serpent in the Sky: The High Wisdom of Ancient Egypt is John Anthony West’s exploration of ancient Egyptian civilization through symbolism, sacred architecture, mathematics, mythology, spirituality, and the work of Egyptologist R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz. Rather than treating Egypt simply as an ancient culture, West argues that its monuments and traditions reflect a much more sophisticated philosophical and metaphysical system than conventional interpretations allow. It became an influential book in alternative Egyptology and remains sought after by readers interested in ancient civilizations, symbolism, esoteric history, and unconventional interpretations of Egypt.

This copy is the 1979 Harper & Row first edition and first printing. The copyright page states “First edition: Harper & Row, Publishers 1979,” and the number line ends in 1, confirming the first printing. The original edition contains 253 pages. 

Condition: Good vintage condition without a dust jacket. Beige cloth boards show noticeable age spotting, staining, discoloration, and general shelf wear, particularly to the rear cover and edges. Gold spine lettering remains readable. Interior pages appear clean overall with light age spotting in places. Binding intact.