"There is no friend as loyal as a book."
— Ernest Hemingway
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
The Second Crime Club Omnibus: Murder at the Vicarage, The Wedding Chest Mystery, Murder At The Pageant and Tragedy on the Line.
London: for The Crime Club Limited by William Collins 1932. FIRST EDITION thus. Collecting these four early Crime Club titles including the first ever Miss Marple novel. The individual books are all exceptionally scarce in dust-jacket. Thick 8vo, pp.1014. Publisher's hardback orange cloth binding, blocked in black, in the fragile... More
![Detective Story Magazine. [Where's the Catch? (A Story of the Solving Six)], [The Thirteen Problems - The Tuesday Night Club]. Agatha CHRISTIE, Dame.](/pictures/thumb/48667 Christie Detective Story Magazine.jpg?v=1542977985)
Detective Story Magazine. [Where's the Catch? (A Story of the Solving Six)], [The Thirteen Problems - The Tuesday Night Club].
New York, NY: Street and Smith, 30th June 1928. FIRST US APPEARANCE. Large octavo, pp.144. In publisher's bright colour illustrated paper covers. Heavily browned, as expected, with a small water stain to top left corner. Very bright covers with a heavily written pencil inscription to front cover. Near-fine. The first... More
![Ingots of Gold [in] Hush Magazine. Volume 2, Number 8. [The Thirteen Problems]. Agatha CHRISTIE, Dame.](/pictures/thumb/50511 Christie Hush Magazine.jpg?v=1542818851)
Ingots of Gold [in] Hush Magazine. Volume 2, Number 8. [The Thirteen Problems].
London: The Detective Story Club, n.d. [January 1931]. [Crime Fiction]. FIRST APPEARANCE. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.129-256. With occasional wood engraved illustrations. In publisher's colour-illustrated paper cover. Heavily browned, as expected. Light wear to edges; some chips from head and tail of spine. Very good. The first appearance of a.... More
![Witness for the Prosecution [in] Summer Pie Magazine. Agatha CHRISTIE, Dame.](/pictures/thumb/51041.jpg?v=1530718970)
Witness for the Prosecution [in] Summer Pie Magazine.
London: Odhams Press, 1939. [Short Stories]. EARLY MAGAZINE APPEARANCE. A4 magazine (29 x 22cm), pp.100. Illustrated throughout in photogravure, with illustrations for the Christie story by Jack Faulks. Publisher's colour-illustrated paper covers, stapled to spine. Light browning to edges. Staples oxidising; some rubbing to edges and spine. Very good. First... More
![The Idol House of Astarte [in] The Royal Magazine. Number 351. Dame CHRISTIE, Agatha, Gilbert WILKINSON.](/pictures/thumb/50012 Christie Royal Magazine.jpg?v=1542818850)
The Idol House of Astarte [in] The Royal Magazine. Number 351.
London: C. Arthur Pearson, January 1928. [Literary Magazine]. FIRST APPEARANCES. Octavo (24 x 17cm), pp.viii; 237-344. Illustrated throughout in photogravure. Publisher's colour-illustrated paper covers. Light wear to edges; repairs to spine. Very good. The very first appearance of a short story which would later appear in 'The Thirteen Problems' (1932)... More
4.50 From Paddington.
London: Collins for the Crime Club, 1957. [Mystery]. FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's bright orange cloth in scarlet and grey dust wrapper. Some toning to edge of text block otherwise a fine copy in similar jacket with one short tear to rear. A really bright example. 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. Fine. More
The Big Four.
London: W. Collins & 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 and toning to edges, light occasional spitting to the textblock. Cloth generally handled, a little rubbed to joints and extremities. A very... More
A Caribbean Mystery.
London, Collins, The Crime Club. 1964. Advance Copy. 8vo. Publisher's blue marbled paper wraps, near fine save for a small triangle of loss to lower rear panel. Clean and fresh. Internally clean. Not to be confused with a proof copy which Collins issued for this title in red card wraps... More
The Clocks.
London: Collins, The Crime Club, 1963. [Detective novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Elegantly hand-bound in half red calf over cloth sides, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with raised bands, original cloth spine bound in at rear. Fine condition, inside and out. The son of Superintendent Battle, the... More
The Crime Collection. The Works include: Murder on the Orient Express, Evil Under the Sun, Death on the Nile, etc.
London: Paul Hamlyn, 1969. 24 volumes; 8vo. (21 x 86 cm). Elegantly bound in half dark blue calf with raised bands, cloth boards, gilt decoration to spine. Internally clean, externally fine. The only major collection of Christie's novels to date, presented in an attractive recent leather binding. Known originally as... More
Death Comes as The End.
London: For The Crime Club by Collins, 1945. [Mystery]. FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.160., Publisher's orange cloth in original pictorial dust-wrapper. Jacket with a couple of tiny nicks to spine ends, flap not priced (for export). Exceptionally clean and bright. A groundbreaking novel in which Christie anticipates the... More
Death Comes as The End.
London: For The Crime Club by Collins, 1945. [Mystery] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.160. Publisher's orange cloth, black titles to spine, pictorial dust-jacket priced at 7/6. Neat ownership inscription to flyleaf. Some light spotting and toning to edges. Cloth slightly rubbed to extremities, endcaps slightly rolled. Dust-jacket shows... More
Death Comes as The End.
London: For The Crime Club by Collins, 1945. [Mystery] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.160. Publisher's orange cloth, black titles to spine, pictorial dust-jacket priced at 7/6. Discreet dated initials to pastedown, edgeworn jacket has a few small chips, one longer closed tear to rear panel, some dustiness. Very... More
Destination Unknown
Collins Crime Club, London 1954. Espionage novel. UNCORRECTED ADVANCE PROOF of the first edition. 8vo., Publisher's wraps with printed label to upper. Some toning; very good, housed in a custom-made cloth case, titled in gilt to the spine. Scarce format. Secret Service thriller from the Queen of Crime; When a.... More
Destination Unknown.
London: The Crime Club, by Collins, 1954. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.192. Publisher's cloth binding in dust-wrapper. An unpriced example for export with some trivial edgewear; a lovely fine copy. Secret Service thriller from the Queen of Crime; When a number of leading scientists disappear without... More
The Hound of Death. And Other Stories.
London: Odhams Press Limited, 1933. [Strange Tales] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.247; [5], blank. Publisher's plum-coloured cloth with titles in gilt to spine, in suitable macabre wrapper. Some edge spotting, fugitive pigment of cloth with inevitable sunning to extremities, gilt dulled, jacket with a couple of small chips... More
The Hound of Death. And Other Stories.
London: Odhams Press Limited, 1933. [Strange Tales] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.247; [5], blank. In recent half green morocco leather, with raised bands, gilt titles to spine and matching green cloth boards. A clean copy, inside and out. A collection of twelve short stories, mostly tales of fate... More
The Hound of Death. And Other Stories.
London: Odhams Press Limited, 1933. [Strange Tales] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.247; [5] blank. Publisher's plum-coloured cloth with titles in gilt to spine, in suitable macabre wrapper. Some edge spotting, fugitive pigment of cloth with inevitable sunning to extremities, gilt dulled, jacket with some accomplished restoration, chiefly to... More
Lord Edgware Dies.
London: For the Crime Club by Collins, 1933. [Detective fiction] FIRST EDITION. Crown octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252; [4], advertisements. Publisher's orange cloth, titled in black to upper and backstrip. Some spotting to edges, neat ink ownership to pastedown, paper damaged to top margin of same, cloth handled and worn... 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: Collins, for the Crime Club, 1962. [Crime novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Red cloth with gilt titles to spine, lime green dust-wrapper with red, white and black titles to front cover and spine, publisher's advert for 'The Pale Horse' to rear. Some light wear and tear... More
Mrs McGinty's Dead.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1952. [Detective novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.188; [4], advertisments. Publisher's red cloth with black titles to spine A little dustiness, page edges toned/spotted, ink ownership to flyleaf. A very good copy without jacket. "Mrs McGinty was dead. She was hit on... More
Mrs McGinty's Dead.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1952. [Detective novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.188; [4], advertisements. Elegantly hand-bound in half mid-green calf, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with raised bands, cloth sides. First and final leaf a little toned else fine. "Mrs McGinty was dead. She was hit... More
Mrs McGinty's Dead.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1952. [Detective novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.188; [4], advertisements. Publisher's red cloth with black titles to spine, in pictorial dust-wrapper by Kenneth Farnhill, priced at 9/6. Edges toned, old tape marks to pastedown (hidden beneath flaps), spine sunned, minor wear. A very good copy. More