This post will focus on what the options are regarding acquiring a copy of Murtagh signed by Christopher Paolini. (More general information about the book may be found here)

#Copies signed on tip-in sheets:

This category refers to copies where Christopher Paolini signs a "tip in" sheet, which is then attached to the book during the binding process.

• Standard Signed Editions

  These are identical to the regular edition, except that they have a signature page tipped in.

  Christopher signed 22,000 tip-in sheets for a US signed edition, making this probably the simplest signed edition to get. It has its own unique ISBN (9780593805459), and can be preordered online via Barnes and Noble and Books A Million, for the same price as the regular edition. Many other US bookstores will also have copies of this edition.

  One bookstore in the UK had reported also having a signed edition (now sold out), though it is unclear where these tip in sheets came from, as Christopher has not reported signing any for this. It could be copies of the US signed edition that were imported, or it could be that some of the tip in sheets signed for the US edition were sent over to the UK and bound into UK editions. The isbn used was the UK ISBN with a -1 appended on, which may have been a placeholder. (9780241651315-1)

• Waterstones Exclusive Numbered Edition

  Waterstones in the UK will have a special edition of Murtagh that is signed and numbered by Christopher. The exact details of this edition are unknown, but they will have a total of 2,500 copies, one set numbered 1-500, and another set numbered 1-2,000.

• Inkstone Books Exclusive Numbered Edition

  Inkstone Books will have 500 copies, signed and numbered by Christopher. These copies will also feature foiling on the case under the dust jacket, red stained edges with a dragon scale stenciling, and a bookmark ribbon. Pictures can be found on their website, and general preorders are expected to open up sometime this week.

• The Broken Binding Exclusive Numbered Edition

  Inkstone Books will have 1,000 copies, signed and numbered by Christopher. These copies will also feature new artwork by René Aigner on the front endpapers, back endpapers, and edge. The edge artwork can be seen here. It is not known when preorders will open, but they are expected to be pretty soon.

Copies signed on title page

This category refers to copies where Christopher Paolini signs the book on the title page after it is fully bound. This is less practical to do at scale, but generally allows for more personalization.

• Attend a book tour stop

  Christopher will be going on a fourteen stop US/Canada tour in November, and then a UK/Europe tour in December. (The exact stops and dates for the second tour are not yet announced.) At each stop he will be doing book signings, and attending one of these is generally the best way to get a book signed and personalized on the title page.

• Order a copy from a bookstore on the tour

  If you are unable to make it to one of the stops on the book tour, most of them will be happy to mail you a book signed at the tour, though generally they will be unable to get it personalized for you. Contact some of the book stores on the tour for more details.

• The Signed Page

  The Signed Page is not a listed stop on the book tour, but they will be getting 200 books signed during the tour, and they let you request for a personalization as part of the preorder process. At the time of writing this post they still have 38 slots left.

Translated Editions

The above information generally refers to English copies of the book. There are however over ten translated editions releasing simultaneously with the English edition. If you'd like one of these to be signed your options are a bit more limited.

• CBJ in Germany has 500 signed bookplates that they will be doing events and giveaways with in November. Book plates are essentially signed stickers that are meant to be applied into a book after it is purchased.

• Rizzoli in Italy will have 1,000 tip in sheets for a signed edition, but it is unclear yet where this will be sold and how to order it.

• Any book tour stops in Europe will generally have the book in the language of that country, and even if Christopher isn't stopping in your country, you can always bring in a copy with you while attending a stop in an adjacent country.