"You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me."
— C. S. Lewis
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
Results 1 - 19 (of 19)
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
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
Cat Among the Pigeons.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1959. [Detective novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.255; [1] blank. Publisher's red cloth with black titles to spine, in typographic dust-jacket. Ink ownership/date to flyleaf. Jacket shows some marking and chips, a few tears stabilised to rear, price clipped. Very good. Unthinkable..... More
![Five Little Pigs [aka Murder in Retrospect]. Agatha CHRISTIE, Dame](/pictures/thumb/60429.jpg?v=1630772342)
Five Little Pigs [aka Murder in Retrospect]
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, July 1943. [Detective Fiction] Second impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.192. Publisher's orange cloth lettered in black. Contents clean, covers spotted with a couple of splashed to upper, spine sunned. Provided with a modern jacket from 'Facsimile Jackets LLC'. This is a...... 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
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
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
London: W. Collins and Sons and Co. Ltd., 1926. [Crime Fiction] First Edition. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.312, bound without half title in an elegant half dark blue calf, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with raised bands, gilt titles, matching blue cloth sides, top edge gilt. Some minor dustiness and..... More
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
London: W. Collins and Sons and Co. Ltd., 1931. [Crime Fiction] Fourth Impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.312. Bound in publisher's black cloth blocked and trimmed in red. Contemporary ownership. Some foxing, edges spotted/toned, marginal insect damage to pp.241-252, cloth a little marked but generally tidy. Very good overall. The..... More
![Nemesis. [A Miss Jane Marple Story]. Agatha CHRISTIE, Dame](/pictures/thumb/60610.jpg?v=1632154205)
Nemesis. [A Miss Jane Marple Story].
London: The Crime Club [Collins], 1971. [Murder mystery] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's orange cloth in grey typographic dust-jacket with printed price of £1.50. Discreet ink name and date else a clean, fine copy in a superior example of the jacket which shows wear too readily. This..... More
Ordeal By Innocence.
London: For The Crime Club by Collins, 1958. [Crime Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's red cloth, titled in black, with typographical dust-wrapper priced at 10/6. Jacket very lightly nicked; a near fine copy of what appears to be a trial jacket - this one with a...... More
Poirot and the Regatta Mystery.
London: Vallancey Press Limted, no date [1945]. [Detective Mystery] FIRST SEPARATE EDITION. Slim octavo (18 x 12cm), pp.16. Illustrated stiff card covers designed by 'Jeffrey', original price 6d. A little dustiness and handling, lightly rubbed; near fine. The first stand-alone printing of this famous short story which had only previously..... More
Poirot Loses a Client.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company. 1937. [Murder Mystery] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm) pp.[viii]; 302; [2], sample pages reprinted from 'Dead Man's Mirror'. Publisher's orange cloth pictorially blocked in black, top edge orange, others untrimmed, patterned endpapers, illustrated dust-wrapper priced at $2.00. A lovely fine copy..... More
Poirot's Early Cases.
London: Collins, 1974. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.138. Elegantly hand-bound in half black calf over matching cloth sides, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with traditional raised bands. Contents clean, small thumb mark to top edge, exterior unmarked. A fine copy in a bespoke binding. Eighteen mysteries..... More
Postern of Fate.
London: The Crime Club [Collins], 1973. [Crime Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.254 [2]. Publisher's green cloth with gilt titles to spine. With the green dust-jacket priced at £2. A near fine copy of the book in a slightly edge worn jacket. More
Towards Zero.
London: Published by The Crime Club by Collins, 1944. [Crime thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.160. Publisher's red cloth in dust-wrapper designed by J.Z. Atkinson (the correct issue with the small illustration of a bell on the spine - omitted on reprints). Minor discolour to binding, wrapper with..... More
Towards Zero.
London: Published by The Crime Club by Collins, 1944. [Crime Mystery] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[2] 160 [2]. Recently bound in burgundy half morocco, with raised bands, gilt titles to spine, and matching cloth over boards. Lightly trimmed for binding. Paper slightly toned as usual. A...... More
![The Second Gong [in] The Strand Magazine. Volume 84, number 499. Agatha CHRISTIE, J. B....](/pictures/thumb/58888.jpg?v=1621009870)
The Second Gong [in] The Strand Magazine. Volume 84, number 499.
London: George Newnes, July 1932. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Octavo (25 x 17cm), pp.[28] 104 [29-40]. With frequent black and white, and occasional dichromatic, illustrations. Publisher's colour-illustrated paper covers, priced at 1s. Housed in a light blue Strand card slipcase. Fairly light wear to covers, with heavier wear and toning..... More
Results 1 - 19 (of 19)