The Color Purple
by Walker, Alice
The Color Purple is an acclaimed epistolary novel by
American author Alice Walker. Taking place mostly in rural Georgia, this
collection of letters weaves an intricate mosaic of women joined by their love
for each other, the men who abuse them, and the children they care for. In
this, The Color Purple focuses on black female life in the American South
during the 1930s, addressing the numerous issues including their exceedingly
low position in American social culture.
The novel received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award. Because of the explicit content, particularly in terms of violence, The Color Purple has been a frequent target of censors, appearing on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-1999.
The novel received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award. Because of the explicit content, particularly in terms of violence, The Color Purple has been a frequent target of censors, appearing on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-1999.
First Edition Identification and Notes
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich first published The Color Purple
in New York in 1982. First editions state “First Edition” on the copyright page
along with “BCDE,” the publisher’s code.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
In 1992, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt published a hardcover Tenth
Anniversary Edition of The Color Purple, which includes a new preface by the
author.
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Available copies

The Color Purple
by Walker, Alice
- Seller
- Quintessential Rare Books, LLC
- Published
- 1982
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
$2,750.00
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First Edition, First Printing. This copy is SIGNED by Alice Walker on the title page. This First Issue dustjacket is rich in color and has the publisher's $11.95 printed price present. The book is in great shape with minor wear to the boards. The binding is tight with NO cocking or leaning. The pages are clean with NO writing, marks… Read more
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$2,750.00

The Color Purple
by Walker, Alice
- Seller
- Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
- Published
- 1982
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$2,500.00
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New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982. First Edition. Fine/Fine. First edition, first printing. Signed by Alice Walker and inscribed to former owners on the front free endpaper. Bound in publisher's original purple cloth-backed boards with spine lettered in silver. Fine, in a Fine unclipped, correct first printing dust jacket.
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$2,500.00

The Color Purple (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)
by Alice Walker
- Seller
- Ergodebooks
- Published
- 2003-05-01
- Condition
- Used:Good
- ISBN
- 9781417632817
- Item Price
-
$958.18
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Turtleback, 2003-05-01. School & Library Binding. Used:Good.
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The Color Purple.
by Walker, Alice.
- Seller
- Cellar Stories Bookstore
- Published
- 1982.
- Condition
- Near Fine in Near Fine dj
- Edition
- First edition
- ISBN
- 9780151191536
- Item Price
-
$700.00
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New York and London:: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich,, 1982.. First edition. Cloth. Near Fine in Near Fine dj. 8vo. 245 pp. First edition (stated), in excellent condition. Slight damp-wrinkling to ffep, minor wear to dj spine ends. Interior clean and crisp, binding tight. Dj in protective mylar jacket cover. Scarce edition of an American classic.
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$700.00

The Color Purple
by Walker, Alice
- Seller
- Timothy Norlen Bookseller
- Published
- 1982
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First American Edition
- Item Price
-
$630.00
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New York: Harcourt, Brace Jovanovich, 1982. Winner of both the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize. Basis for excellent film. Bookplate on front endpaper applied with glue, else fine. Jacket is bright and fresh with short crease and tiny wrinkle on back panel. First edition stated then B C D E on copyright page. .… Read more
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THE COLOR PURPLE
by Walker, Alice
- Seller
- Type Punch Matrix
- Published
- 1982
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First edition
- Item Price
-
$600.00
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New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982. First edition. Fine. First printing of Alice Walker's breakaway success, a book centered around the experience of African-American women in the rural South. THE COLOR PURPLE is an epistolary novel about an African-American family in Georgia, following the fate of two sisters through their letters to each other. The book is particularly… Read more
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2001-05-10
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780704346666
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$546.14
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Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1987-03-15
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780671647452
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$469.24
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1992-01-01
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780704343306
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$463.64
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2005-03-24
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780752864341
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$435.36
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The Color Purple (25th Anniversary Edition)
by Alice Walker
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- Published
- 2007-02-02
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780297853350
- Item Price
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$397.65
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
- Seller
- Books Express
- Published
- 2005-03-24
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9780752864341
- Item Price
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$354.00
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2005-03-24. Good. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May not contain Access Codes or Supplements. May be re-issue. May be ex-library. Shipping & Handling by region. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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$354.00

The Color Purple
by Walker, Alice
- Seller
- DrPanglossBooks
- Published
- 1982
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- first edition
- ISBN
- 9780151191536
- Item Price
-
$325.00
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first edition (stated) first printing (full HBJ letter line) hardcover in dust jacket; no prior owner marks; slight age tone; tight bind; clean 1/4 cloth cover vivid titling; little dj edge wear but no tears; flap price present Wllambi
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The Color Purple
by WALKER, ALICE
- Seller
- Hard To Find Books
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$305.64
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The Women's Press 1986. FIRST UK HARDCOVER EDITION, super octavo, black heavy card boards, silver gilt lettering to spine, 245pp, VG+ (light bruising to spine extrems, ligth scuffing & foxing to page edges) in d/w, VG (light to moderate creasing & chipping to edges, light chafing & soiling to covers)
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The Color Purple: Tenth Anniversary Editon
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1992-03-08
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780151191543
- Item Price
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$261.54
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2010-12-01
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9781407230924
- Item Price
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$224.41
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1990-01-04
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780671727796
- Item Price
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$183.16
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1990-01-04. New. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May be re-issue. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2003-01-01
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780156028356
- Item Price
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$179.04
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The Color Purple
by Alice WALKER
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- Books Express
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- 2008-06-02
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780704339057
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$179.04
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Color Purple
by Walker, Alice
- Seller
- Bonita
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780671668785
- Item Price
-
$178.48
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Paperback. New.
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
- Seller
- Ergodebooks
- Published
- 1986-09
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9780812446708
- Item Price
-
$174.79
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Perfection Learning Prebound, 1986-09. Paperback. Good.
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$174.79

The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
- Seller
- Books Express
- Published
- 2007-11-01
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780753818923
- Item Price
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$162.53
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
- Seller
- Books Express
- Published
- 2010-07-08
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9781440792304
- Item Price
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$136.32
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$136.32

The Color Purple
by Walker, Alice
- Seller
- John Atkinson Books
- Published
- 1986
- Item Price
-
$137.85
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London: The Women's Press, 1986. A first edition, first printing published by The Women's Press in 1986. A near fine book without inscriptions in a very good+ unclipped wrapper with some wear to the corners.
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$137.85

The Color Purple: Tenth Anniversary Edition
by Alice Walker
- Seller
- Magus Books
- Published
- May 1992
- Condition
- Collectible; Very Good
- ISBN
- 9780151191543
- Item Price
-
$134.40
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Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, May 1992. Hardcover. Collectible; Very Good/Very Good. used hardcover in a dust jacket. jacket is slightly worn about the edges, but with no tears and not price clipped. pages and binding are clean, straight and tight. there are no marks to the text or other serious flaws. SIGNED BY WALKER ON TITLE PAGE. AUTOGRAPHED COPY… Read more
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$134.40

The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
- Seller
- Ergodebooks
- Published
- 1982-06-01
- Condition
- Used:Good
- ISBN
- 9780151191536
- Item Price
-
$134.35
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Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982-06-01. Hardcover. Used:Good.
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The Color Purple
by Walker, Alice
- Seller
- Ergodebooks
- Published
- 2001-05-10
- Condition
- Used:Good
- ISBN
- 9780704346666
- Item Price
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$132.52
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Women's Press Ltd,The, 2001-05-10. Paperback. Used:Good.
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Color Purple
by Alice Walker
- Seller
- Books Express
- Published
- 1996-03-07
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780671668785
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$131.90
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
- Seller
- Ergodebooks
- Published
- 1998-02-01
- Condition
- Used:Good
- ISBN
- 9780671019075
- Item Price
-
$131.76
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Washington Square Press, 1998-02-01. Paperback. Used:Good.
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The Color Purple
by Walker, Alice
- Seller
- Wonder Book
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN
- 9780671617028
- Item Price
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$129.99
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Pocket Books (Mm). Used - Very Good. Very Good condition.
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$129.99

The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1985-03-03
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780671617028
- Item Price
-
$127.47
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1985-03-03. New. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May be re-issue. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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$127.47

The Color Purple: A Novel (G K Hall Large Print Book Series)
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1986-12-01
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9780816141418
- Item Price
-
$125.06
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1986-12-01. Good. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May not contain Access Codes or Supplements. May be re-issue. May be ex-library. Shipping & Handling by region. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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$125.06

The Color Purple (MCI) (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations)
by Alice Walker (Editor)
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- Ergodebooks
- Published
- 2000-01-01
- Condition
- Used:Good
- ISBN
- 9780791056660
- Item Price
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$120.68
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Chelsea House Publications, 2000-01-01. Hardcover. Used:Good.
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1983-01-01
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780671458539
- Item Price
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$120.11
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1983-01-01. New. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May be re-issue. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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color Purple
by WALKER Alice
- Seller
- J. E. MILES, A BOOKSELLER
- Published
- 2012
- Condition
- New
- Item Price
-
$114.95
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AWB. New. 2012. Soft Cover. Latest Printing .
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The Color Purple: Hachette Essentials
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2019-07-04
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9781474612944
- Item Price
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$114.22
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2019-07-04. New. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May be re-issue. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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The Color Purple: A Novel
by Walker, Alice
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2019-12-10
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780143135692
- Item Price
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$112.75
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2019-03-12
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9781978665279
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$112.75
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2014-06-05
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9781780228716
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$112.75
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
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- 2006-11-01
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780156031820
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$112.75
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The color purple
by Walker, Alice
- Seller
- Books from Worldwide
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9781780228716
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$112.84
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PENGUIN. Used - Good.
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![image of The Color Purple [Japanese Edition]](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/664/838/1360838664.0.m.jpg)
The Color Purple [Japanese Edition]
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1986-01-01
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9784087601176
- Item Price
-
$111.27
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1986-01-01. New. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May be re-issue. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 1992-08-07
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9781568653501
- Item Price
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$109.84
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1992-08-07. Good. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May not contain Access Codes or Supplements. May be re-issue. May be ex-library. Shipping & Handling by region. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- 1999-01-01
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9781474607254
- Item Price
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$108.33
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1999-01-01. New. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May be re-issue. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
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- 2003-02-04
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- New
- ISBN
- 9780151191536
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$108.33
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2003-02-04. New. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May be re-issue. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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The Color Purple (Musical Tie-In)
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
- Published
- 2015-11-10
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780544805026
- Item Price
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$105.38
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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- Books Express
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- 2006-03-09
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780156031820
- Item Price
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$102.44
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2006-03-09. New. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May be re-issue. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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$102.44

The Color Purple (25th Anniversary Edition)
by Alice Walker
- Seller
- Books Express
- Published
- 2007-02-02
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9780297853350
- Item Price
-
$102.12
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2007-02-02. Good. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May not contain Access Codes or Supplements. May be re-issue. May be ex-library. Shipping & Handling by region. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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$102.12

The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
- Seller
- Books Express
- Published
- 1992-01-01
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9780704343306
- Item Price
-
$102.12
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1992-01-01. Good. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May not contain Access Codes or Supplements. May be re-issue. May be ex-library. Shipping & Handling by region. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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$102.12

Color Purple
by Alice Walker
- Seller
- Books Express
- Published
- 1987-03-15
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN
- 9780671647452
- Item Price
-
$98.49
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1987-03-15. Good. Ships with Tracking Number! INTERNATIONAL WORLDWIDE Shipping available. May not contain Access Codes or Supplements. May be re-issue. May be ex-library. Shipping & Handling by region. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service!
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$98.49