This book does not have an author but many users like to fill in something in the author field. Most libraries list Karl W Butzer, one of the chapter authors, as the first listed alternate or other author. Some libraries list the editor Jules B. Billard as the alternate/other author. The National Geographic Society can also be listed as a corporate author.

The National Geographic Society uses the ISBN 0870442201 on two different books, Bart McDowell is the author of Journey across Russia (the other one), and not Ancient Egypt: Discovering Its Splendors.