"A book should serve as the axe for the frozen sea within us."
— Franz Kafka
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 Body in the Library. Script for the BBC Radio play.
London: British Broadcasting Corporation, [1998]. [Detective fiction drama] An original production-used script for the Radio 4 'Saturday Play', adapted from the best-selling novel The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie, directed by Enyd Williams, starring June Whitfield as Miss Marple, with Richard Todd, Pauline Jameson and Graham Crowden. Quarto..... More
![Item #71488 [Screenplay] Murder in Mesopotamia. Film script. Agatha CHRISTIE, Julian BOND,...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/71488.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1744302134)
[Screenplay] Murder in Mesopotamia. Film script.
Sydney: Burbank Films, 1987. [Film material] Vintage original script for the unmade film adaptation based on the best-selling novel by Agatha Christie. Octavo (28 x 22cm), pp.93, mimeograph, in textured orange card wrappers with die-cut title window, bound internally with two clasps. Studio details to title page redacted with Tippex..... More
![Item #71489 [Screenplay] Murder With Mirrors. Film script. Agatha CHRISTIE, Julian BOND, adaptation](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/71489.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1744302134)
[Screenplay] Murder With Mirrors. Film script.
Burbank: Warner Bros., 1984. [Film material] Vintage original production-used script for the film adaptation based on the best-selling novel by Agatha Christie. Octavo (28 x 22cm), pp.117, mimeograph, in textured light blue card wrappers with die-cut title window, bound internally with two clasps. Minor annotations to title page. Accompanied by..... More
![Item #74486 [Screenplay] The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side. Film script. Agatha CHRISTIE,...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/74486.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1771867147)
[Screenplay] The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side. Film script.
London: G.W. Films Ltd, July 1978 [released 1980]. [Movie memorabilia] Vintage original production-used script for the film adaptation based on the best-selling novel by Agatha Christie, starring Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple, and an all-star cast including Elizabeth Taylor, Tony Curtis, Kim Novak, Rock Hudson, Charles Gray, Edward Fox and..... More
The Hollow: Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC) reader's report, assessing the novel's potential for film adaptation.
N.p. [London: Elstree Studios/ABPC], 1951. [Literary and cinematic critique] Elstree Studios' report on the first stage adaptation of the Hercule Poirot detective novel The Hollow. 3pp., typed report on rectos only, reader's delivery stamp to first page. Together with a first edition of the play/acting edition (Samuel French, 1952). Perforations..... More
The Pale Horse: Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC) reader's report, favourably assessing the novel's potential for film adaptation, together with a First Edition book.
N.p. [London: Elstree Studios/ABPC], 1961. [Literary and cinematic critique] Elstree Studios' report of the detective novel The Pale Horse. 4pp., typed report on ABPC headed paper, rectos only, reader's delivery stamp to first page dated 9 October 1961. Report: Perforations down left edge from office binding. Very well preserved. Book..... More
A Murder is Announced. Script for the BBC Radio play.
London: British Broadcasting Corporation, [1998]. [Detective fiction drama] An original production-used script for the first episode of the Radio 4 play, adapted from the best-selling novel 'A Murder is Announced' by Agatha Christie, directed by Enyd Williams, starring June Whitfield as Miss Marple, with Ian Lavender, Judy Cornwell and Graham..... More
![Item #72602 Contributes The Second Gong [Hercule Poirot], in The Strand Magazine, July 1932,...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/72602.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1753114503)
Contributes The Second Gong [Hercule Poirot], in The Strand Magazine, July 1932, Volume 84, No.499.
London: George Newnes, Ltd., 1932. [Literature/ Crime Fiction] FIRST APPEARANCE as of this Poirot detective mystery as published in The Strand, in the original colour-illustrated paper covers, priced at 1s. Octavo (25 x 19cm). With frequent illustrations, some in colour. Issue is sewn at spine. Contents clean, covers show some..... More
![Item #72600 Contributes The £10 Adventure [Mr. Parker Pyne], in The Strand Magazine, November...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/72600.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1753114503)
Contributes The £10 Adventure [Mr. Parker Pyne], in The Strand Magazine, November 1932, Volume 84, No.503.
London: George Newnes, Ltd., 1932. [Literature/ Crime Fiction] FIRST APPEARANCE as of this Parker Pyne mystery as published in The Strand, in the original colour-illustrated paper covers, priced at 1s. Octavo (25 x 19cm). With frequent illustrations, some in colour. Issue is sewn at spine. Contents clean, promotional insert still..... More
The Mousetrap. A Play. Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC) reader's report, favourably assessing the play's potential for film adaptation. Together with a copy of the original theatre programme.
N.p. [London: Elstree Studios/ABPC], Ambassadors Theatre, 1952. [Literary and cinematic critique] Elstree Studios' report of the play, recommending it as suitable for filming. 6pp., typed report on rectos only. Rubber-stamped ink date-received [17 Dec 1952] to front. Perforations down left edge from office binding. Very well preserved. Programme is very..... More
Cat Among the Pigeons: Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC) reader's report, unfavourably assessing the novel's potential for film adaptation, together with a First Edition book.
N.p. [London: Elstree Studios, ABPC/Warner Bros.], Collins, 1959. [Literary and cinematic critique] Elstree Studios' report of the 'Hercule Poirot' murder-mystery novel Cat Among the Pigeons, rejecting the novel as unsuitable for filming. 4pp., typed report on rectos only, reader's delivery stamp to first page dated 16 November 1959. Perforations down..... More
Contributes 'Destination Unknown' to 'John Bull' magazine, September 25, October 9, 23, 16, 1954.
London: Odhams Press, 1954. [Literary magazine] FIRST APPEARANCE, also FIRST ILLUSTRATED APPEARANCE. Four of Five issues. Newspaper format magazines (34 x 26cm). In publisher's colour illustrated softcovers, each priced fourpence. Minor handling, staples rusted else exceptionally well preserved. Near-complete serial printing of this famous Agatha Christie mystery, prior to its..... More
Two 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. Publisher's burgundy cloth gilt-stamped to upper and spine. With the illustrated dust-wrapper by Vernon L Soper. Contents toned as expected, slight lean, gilt to spine dulled, bright dust jacket..... More
Two 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, first impression. Small octavo (17 x 11cm), pp188; [2], advertisements. Publisher's burgundy cloth gilt-stamped to upper and spine. With the illustrated dust-wrapper by Vernon L Soper. Contents toned as expected, slight lean, gilt to spine dulled, dust..... More
Black Coffee.
London: Harper Collins, 1998. [Crime fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.[iv]; 188. Publisher's black cloth lettered in silver to spine. With the dust-jacket illustrated by Andrew Davidson, priced at £15.99. Toning to edges of textblock, with a little light handling, jacket a touch edge worn. A country house..... More
The ABC Murders.
London: W. Collins & Son / The Crime Club / Harper Collins, 2012. [Detective novel] FACSIMILE EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.212; [10], blank. Publisher's red cloth blocked in black. With the illustrated dust-jacket priced at 7s 6d to front flap. A fine, as-new copy. A facsimile of the original..... More
The ABC Murders.
London: BCA by arrangement with HarperCollinsPublishers, 2006. [Murder-mystery] FACSIMILE EDITION, book club issue, first thus. Octavo (21 x 13cm), pp.252; [4], ads. Publisher's black cloth over boards with gilt titles to spine. With the striking dust-jacket, priced 7/6. Slightly dusty else a clean, near fine copy. A facsimile of the..... 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] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[4] 255 [7]. Handsomely bound in recent red half calf over matching cloth-covered boards, sewn endbands, raised bands, gilt title labels and gilt rules to spine, original cloth spine preserved at rear. Clean..... More
After the Funeral / Murder at the Gallop (First Edition hardback and Press book for the film).
London: The Crime Club by Collins, M.G.M. 1953, 1963. [Crime Fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.192. Publisher's orange cloth with black titles to spine, dust-jacket designed by Beytagh, priced at 10/6. Together with 'Murder at the Gallop' Press Book for the 1963 film adaptation, pp.8, illustrated..... More
After the Funeral.
London: Collins for the Crime Club, [1953]. [Crime Fiction] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.192. Family tree on page 4. Bound in black half calf, with raised bands, gilt titles to spine, and burgundy cloth over boards. Internally clean, exterior unmarked. Presented in an attractive recent..... More
After the Funeral.
London: Collins for the Crime Club, [1953]. [Crime Fiction] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.192. Family tree on page 4. Hand-bound in green half calf, with raised bands, gilt titles to spine, and contrasting black cloth-covered sides. Internally clean, exterior unmarked. Presented in an attractive recent..... More
The Agatha Christie Book Collection. Harper Collins' COMPLETE facsimile series: The Mysterious Affair at Styles; The Secret Adversary; The Murder on the Links; The Man in the Brown Suit; The Secret of Chimneys; The Murder of Roger Ackroyd; The Big Four; The Mystery of The Blue Train; The Seven Dials Mystery; Murder at The Vicarage; The Sittaford Mystery; Peril at End House; Lord Edgware Dies; Murder on the Orient Express; Why Didn't They Ask Evans?; Three Act Tragedy; Death in the Clouds; The A.B.C. Murders; Murder in Mesopotamia; Cards on the Table; Dumb Witness; Death on the Nile; Appointment with Death; Hercule Poirot's Christmas; Murder Is Easy; And Then There Were None; Sad Cypress; One, Two, Buckle My Shoe; Evil Under the Sun; N or M?; The Body in the Library; Five Little Pigs; The Moving Finger; Towards Zero; Death Comes as the End; Sparkling Cyanide; The Hollow; Taken at the Flood; Crooked House; A Murder Is Announced; They Came to Baghdad; Mrs McGinty's Dead; They Do It with Mirrors; After the Funeral; A Pocketful of Rye; Destination Unknown; Hickory Dickory Dock; Dead Man's Folly; 4.50 From Paddington; Ordeal by Innocence; Cat Among the Pigeons; The Pale Horse; The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side; The Clocks; A Caribbean Mystery; At Bertram's Hotel; Third Girl; Endless Night; By the Pricking of My Thumbs; Hallowe'en Party; Passenger to Frankfurt; Nemesis; Elephants Can Remember; Postern of Fate; Curtain; Sleeping Murder; Poirot Investigates; Partners in Crime; The Mysterious Mr Quin; The Thirteen Problems; The Hound of Death; The Listerdale Mystery; Parker Pyne Investigates; Murder in the Mews; The Labours of Hercules; The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding; Poirot's Early Cases; Miss Marple's Final Cases; Problem at Pollensa Bay; While the Light Lasts; Witness for the Prosecution and Selected Plays; Appointment with Death and Other Plays; The Mousetrap; An Autobiography, Parts I and II.
London: Agatha Christie Limited / Harper Collins, 2011-2016. [Mystery / Crime] COMPLETE SET IN 85 VOLUMES, all firsts thus. Each volume states "this novel forms part of an issue of The Agatha Christie Book Collection partwork... not to be sold separately". Octavo (19 x 13). Publisher's red hardcovers blocked in..... More
The Agatha Christie Crime Collection: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Murder on the Orient Express, Murder at The Vicarage, A Murder is Announced, Murder is Easy, The ABC Murders, Murder in The Mews, Murder in Mesopotamia, Murder on the Links, Lord Edgeware Dies, Mrs McGinty's Dead, Dead Man's Folly, The Hound of Death, Appointment with Death, Death on The Nile, Death in The Clouds, Death Comes as the End, Peril at End House, Crooked House, The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding, Poirot's Christmas, Poirot Investigates, Parker Pyne Investigates, They Do it with Mirrors, The Mirror Crack'd, The Clocks, The Seven Dials Mystery, The Listerdale Mystery, The Sittaford Mystery, A Caribbean Mystery, The Mystery of The Blue Train, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, And Then There Were None, Five Little Pigs, Third Girl, The Big Four, The Thirteen Problems, Towards Zero, Three Act Tragedy, The Hollow, The Moving Finger, 4.50 From Paddington, Passenger to Frankfurt, Evil Under the Sun, At Bertram's Hotel, Why Didn't They Ask Evans, Dumb Witness, Taken at The Flood, They Came to Baghdad, Sparkling Cyanide, The Secret of Chimneys, After the Funeral, The Body in The Library, Halloween Party, The Pale Horse, The Secret Adversary, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, The Mysterious Mr Quin, Endless Night, The Man in The Brown Suit, Ordeal by Innocence, One, Two Buckle my Shoe, Cards On the Table, N or M?, Cat Among the Pigeons, The Labours of Hercules, Hickory Dickory Dock, Partners in Crime, Sad Cypress, Nemesis, A Pocketful of Rye and Destination Unknown.
London: Paul Hamlyn, 1969-1972. [Mystery / Crime] LEATHER BOUND SET. Complete in 24 volumes. Octavo (20 x 14 x 82cm). Handsomely bound in black half oasis morocco, with raised bands, gilt titles and decoration to spines, and navy cloth over boards. A few minor spots to volume containing 'Lord Edgware..... More
The Agatha Christie Crime Collection: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Murder on the Orient Express, Murder at The Vicarage, A Murder is Announced, Murder is Easy, The ABC Murders, Murder in The Mews, Murder in Mesopotamia, Murder on the Links, Lord Edgeware Dies, Mrs McGinty's Dead, Dead Man's Folly, The Hound of Death, Appointment with Death, Death on The Nile, Death in The Clouds, Death Comes as the End, Peril at End House, Crooked House, The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding, Poirot's Christmas, Poirot Investigates, Parker Pyne Investigates, They Do it with Mirrors, The Mirror Crack'd, The Clocks, The Seven Dials Mystery, The Listerdale Mystery, The Sittaford Mystery, A Caribbean Mystery, The Mystery of The Blue Train, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, And Then There Were None, Five Little Pigs, Third Girl, The Big Four, The Thirteen Problems, Towards Zero, Three Act Tragedy, The Hollow, The Moving Finger, 4.50 From Paddington, Passenger to Frankfurt, Evil Under the Sun, At Bertram's Hotel, Why Didn't They Ask Evans, Dumb Witness, Taken at The Flood, They Came to Baghdad, Sparkling Cyanide, The Secret of Chimneys, After the Funeral, The Body in The Library, Halloween Party, The Pale Horse, The Secret Adversary, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, The Mysterious Mr Quin, Endless Night, The Man in The Brown Suit, Ordeal by Innocence, One, Two Buckle my Shoe, Cards On the Table, N or M?, Cat Among the Pigeons, The Labours of Hercules, Hickory Dickory Dock, Partners in Crime, Sad Cypress, Nemesis, A Pocketful of Rye and Destination Unknown.
London: Paul Hamlyn, 1969-1972. [Mystery / Crime] LEATHER BOUND SET. Complete in 24 volumes. Octavo (20 x 14 x 82cm). Handsomely bound in burgundy half morocco, with raised bands ruled in gilt, twin black title labels lettered in gilt, and matching cloth over boards. Top edges gilt, others lightly trimmed..... More
The Agatha Christie Crime Collection: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Murder on the Orient Express, Murder at The Vicarage, A Murder is Announced, Murder is Easy, The ABC Murders, Murder in The Mews, Murder in Mesopotamia, Murder on the Links, Lord Edgeware Dies, Mrs McGinty's Dead, Dead Man's Folly, The Hound of Death, Appointment with Death, Death on The Nile, Death in The Clouds, Death Comes as the End, Peril at End House, Crooked House, The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding, Poirot's Christmas, Poirot Investigates, Parker Pyne Investigates, They Do it with Mirrors, The Mirror Crack'd, The Clocks, The Seven Dials Mystery, The Listerdale Mystery, The Sittaford Mystery, A Caribbean Mystery, The Mystery of The Blue Train, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, And Then There Were None, Five Little Pigs, Third Girl, The Big Four, The Thirteen Problems, Towards Zero, Three Act Tragedy, The Hollow, The Moving Finger, 4.50 From Paddington, Passenger to Frankfurt, Evil Under the Sun, At Bertram's Hotel, Why Didn't They Ask Evans, Dumb Witness, Taken at The Flood, They Came to Baghdad, Sparkling Cyanide, The Secret of Chimneys, After the Funeral, The Body in The Library, Halloween Party, The Pale Horse, The Secret Adversary, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, The Mysterious Mr Quin, Endless Night, The Man in The Brown Suit, Ordeal by Innocence, One, Two Buckle my Shoe, Cards On the Table, N or M?, Cat Among the Pigeons, The Labours of Hercules, Hickory Dickory Dock, Partners in Crime, Sad Cypress, Nemesis, A Pocketful of Rye and Destination Unknown.
London: Paul Hamlyn, 1969-1972. [Mystery / Crime] COMPLETE SET AS PUBLISHED. In 24 volumes. Octavo (20 x 14 x 82cm). Publisher's black cloth with gilt titles to red backing on spines, and further gilt and red decoration to uppers. Top edges and endpapers orange. All volumes with the original photographic..... More