"Hungry man, reach for the book: it is a weapon. "
— Bertolt Brecht
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 - 21 (of 21)
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.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1938. [Murder mystery] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm) pp.[vi]; 301; [5], blank. Publisher's bright orange cloth blocked in black, fore-edge untrimmed, top edge red, illustrated dust-wrapper priced at $2.00. Some very light toning/browning to reverse side and some exquisite light repair;..... 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
The Boomerang Clue.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1935. [Murder mystery] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm) pp.[viii]; 290; [1], adverts; [5], blank. Publisher's light grey cloth blocked in red, top edge bright red, fore-edge untrimmed, 'red badge detective' design endpapers, illustrated dust-wrapper priced at $2.00. A lovely fine copy..... 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
Easy to Kill.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1939. [Detective Fiction] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm) pp.[vi]; 248; [2], blank. Publisher's light blue cloth blocked in navy, fore-edge untrimmed, 'red badge detective' design endpapers, illustrated dust-wrapper by Cob, priced at $2.00. A lovely fine copy of the book in..... 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 at Hazelmoor.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1931. [Murder Mystery] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm) pp.[xii]; 308. Publisher's orange cloth blocked in black, fore-edge untrimmed, 'red badge' design endpapers, illustrated dust-wrapper priced at $2.00. Contents clean, rear fly with ink ownership, used jacket has some chips and tears..... More
The Murder at the Vicarage.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1930. [Murder mystery] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm) pp.[vi]; 319; [1], blank. Publisher's mid-green cloth blocked in dark green, top edge tinted brown, 'village map' endpapers, illustrated dust-wrapper priced at $2.00. A fine copy in a lovely fine jacket which is..... More
The Murder on the Links.
London: John Lane / The Bodley Head, 1923. Mystery novel. FIRST EDITION, octavo, pp.319; [1], blank. Printed on thick paper. Bound in a 'Times' or W.H.Smith' binding of brown cloth titled and trimmed in black. Some expected foxing to paperstock, text block a little toned to edges, some acceptable wear..... 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
Partners in Crime.
London: Collins, 1929. [Detective fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252; [4], advertisements. Publisher's black cloth with titles in red to spine and upper, ruled in red. Much less spotting than usually encountered, minor wear to spine ends, joints a little rubbed. An attractive copy of an early Christie..... 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
![S.O.S. [in] Christmas Pie Magazine. Agatha CHRISTIE, Dame](/pictures/thumb/51042.jpg?v=1578931159)
S.O.S. [in] Christmas Pie Magazine.
London: Odhams Press, 1939. [Short Stories] EARLY MAGAZINE APPEARANCE. A4 magazine (29 x 22cm), pp.104. Illustrated throughout in photogravure, with illustrations for the Christie story by Colin Orme. Publisher's colour-illustrated paper covers, stapled to spine. Light browning to edges. Staples oxidising; some rubbing to edges and spine. Very good. An..... More
The Seven Dials Mystery.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1929. [Murder Mystery] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm) pp.[viii]; 310; [2], blank. Publisher's orange cloth blocked in black, top edge orange, fore-edge untrimmed, decorative red endpapers, illustrated dust-wrapper. A near fine copy of the book (with sunned spine) in a splendid..... More
The Sittaford Mystery.
London: The Crime Club, 1931. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp.250; [6], advertisements for new 7/6 detective novels. PUBLISHER'S UNRECORDED VARIANT BINDING of plum cloth blocked in black to spine and upper. Although the typeface used is the same, the brasses are a different size to those used on the..... More
Sparkling Cyanide.
London: For the Crime Club by Collins, 1945. [Mystery] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.160. Publisher's orange cloth with titles in black to spine, striking pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Stead with a green skull grinning through a glass of cyanide-laced champagne to front panel, titles to spine, reviews of..... More
Taken at the Flood.
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1948. [Crime Mystery] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.192. Recent red half calf with raised bands, gilt titles to spine and red cloth over boards. Light spotting and toning to edges and preliminaries, in an attractive new binding. Very..... 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). Price clipped, a few tiny taped..... More
Results 1 - 21 (of 21)