"There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favourite book."
— Marcel Proust
Agatha Christie | First Editions
1890 - 1976
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English crime novelist, short story writer and playwright. She also wrote six romances under the name Mary Westmacott; however, Christie is best known for the 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections that she wrote under her own name, most of which revolve around the investigative work of such characters as Hercule Poirot, Jane Marple, Parker Pyne, Ariadne Oliver, Harley Quin/Mr Satterthwaite and Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. Christie also wrote the world's longest-running play, a murder mystery entitled The Mousetrap. In 1971, she was made a Dame for her immense contribution to literature.
Christie was initially unsuccessful in getting her work published, but in 1920 The Bodley Head press published her novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles, featuring the character of Hercule Poirot. This launched her literary career. Today, the Guinness Book of World Records lists Christie as the best-selling novelist of all time. Her novels have sold roughly 2 billion copies worldwide, and her estate claims that her works come third in the rankings of the world's most-widely published books (behind Shakespeare's works and the Bible). Christie remains the world's most-translated individual author – having been translated into at least 103 languages. And Then There Were None is Christie's best-selling novel, with 100 million sales to date, making it the world's best-selling mystery ever. Nearly all of Christie's books and short stories have been adapted for television, radio, video games and comics, and more than thirty feature films have been based on her work.
See below our stock of Agatha Christie First Editions, fine bindings, sets, and signed copies.
Agatha Christie
2 New Crime Stories. The Under Dog, and Blackman's Wood by E. Phillips Oppenheim.
London: The Readers Library Publishing Co., no date [1929]. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Small octavo (17 x 11cm), pp188; [2], advertisements. Printed foreword as pastedown. Publisher's cloth in illustrated dust-wrapper by Vernon L Soper. Contents toned as expected, jacket very lightly worn with a few small nicks. A most attractive..... More
4.50 From Paddington.
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1957. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[4] 256 [6]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins with gilt decoration..... More
The Adventure Of The Christmas Pudding. And a Selection of Entrees (Short Story Collection).
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1960. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[4] 255 [7]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins with gilt decoration..... More
Akhnaton.
London: Collins, 1973. [Play] PROOF COPY. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.157; [1]. Publisher's mottled red paper wraps, pictorial dust-jacket designed by Andrew Vargo priced at £1.80 net. A scarce proof copy sent out in advance of the first edition. Dust-jacket very slightly creased and rubbed to top and bottom edges..... More
![Appointment with Death [Hercule Poirot]. Agatha CHRISTIE, Dame](/pictures/thumb/60426.jpg?v=1630427043)
Appointment with Death [Hercule Poirot].
London: For The Crime Club by Collins, 1938. [Detective fiction] FIRST EDITION, octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.252. Lacks half-title and adverts to the rear. Bound in a vintage mid-blue cloth, likely a library binding, although there are no institutional stamps. Edges trimmed, some marks within, a few leaves cropped, ink..... More
![Appointment with Death. [Hercule Poirot]. Agatha CHRISTIE, Dame](/pictures/thumb/60762.jpg?v=1636215904)
Appointment with Death. [Hercule Poirot].
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1938. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.252 [10]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins with gilt decoration, and..... More
At Bertram's Hotel.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1965. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in full green morocco, gilt titles and decoration, patterned endpapers, gilt edges. Original cloth spine and upper bound in at rear. Internally clean and..... More
The Big Four.
London: W. Collins and Sons. 1927. [Crime] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.v, 281; [1]. Publisher's blue cloth, titles in red to spine and upper. Some spotting to contents and edges (thick, fluffy paper is susceptible), covers fresh and bright, spine gently toned, lightly worn at tips. A very..... More
By The Pricking Of My Thumbs.
London: For The Crime Club by Collins, 1968. [Crime fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.255; [1] advertisement. Publisher's mid green cloth in yellow dust-wrapper designed by Kenneth Farnhill priced 21s. A near fine copy (discreet ink stamp to top edge) in slightly nicked wrapper, with a few tape..... More
By The Pricking Of My Thumbs.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1968. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.255; [1]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in full green morocco, gilt titles and decoration, patterned endpapers, gilt edges. Original cloth spine and upper bound in at rear. Internally clean..... More
Cat Among the Pigeons.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1959. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.255; [1]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins with gilt decoration, and all edges..... More
The Clocks.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1963. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in full green morocco, gilt titles and decoration, patterned endpapers, gilt edges. Original cloth spine and upper bound in at rear. Internally clean and..... More
Dead Man's Folly.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1956. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins with gilt decoration, and all edges gilt..... More
Elephants Can Remember.
London: The Crime Club, 1972. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in full green morocco, gilt titles and decoration, patterned endpapers, gilt edges. Original cloth spine and upper bound in at rear. Internally clean and bright. A...... More
Hallowe'en Party. A Hercule Poirot Mystery.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1969. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.255; [1]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in full green morocco, gilt titles and decoration, patterned endpapers, gilt edges. Original cloth spine and upper bound in at rear. Internally clean..... More
Hickory Dickory Dock.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1955. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.192. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins with gilt decoration, and all edges gilt..... More
The Hound of Death. And Other Stories.
London: Odhams Press Limited, 1933. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.247; [1]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins with gilt decoration, and all edges gilt. Original..... More
The Listerdale Mystery. And Other Stories.
London: Collins, 1934. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.251; [5 of advertisements]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins with gilt decoration, and all edges gilt. Original..... More
A Memorial Service: Agatha Christie Mallowan 1890-1976.
Thursday 13th May 1976. ORIGINAL ORDER OF SERVICE. Octavo pamphlet (22 x 14cm), two leaves in paper covers, with two staples. A fine copy. More
The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1962. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in full green morocco, gilt titles and decoration, patterned endpapers, gilt edges. Original cloth spine and upper bound in at rear. Internally clean and..... More
Miss Marple's Final Cases. and two other stories.
London: Collins, 1979. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.138; [2]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins with gilt decoration, and all edges gilt. Original cloth spine..... More
Mr Parker Pyne Detective.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1934. [Murder Mystery cases] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm) pp.[vi]; 245; [1], advertisement; [4], blank. Publisher's bright orange cloth heavily blocked in black, top edge orange, foreedge untrimmed, patterned endpapers, illustrated dust-wrapper priced at $2.00. Minor edgewear, foot of spine a...... More
Mrs McGinty's Dead.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1952. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.188; [4] of advertisements. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins with gilt decoration, and..... More
The Mystery of The Blue Train.
London: W. Collins Sons & Co., no date [1928]. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[4] viii, 295 [7]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins with gilt..... More
Nemesis.
London: The Crime Club, 1971. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in full green morocco, gilt titles and decoration, patterned endpapers, gilt edges. Original cloth spine and upper bound in at rear. Internally clean and bright. A...... More