"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 about The Second Crime Club Omnibus: Murder at the Vicarage, The Wedding Chest Mystery, Murder At The...
![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 about Witness for the Prosecution [in] Summer Pie Magazine
4.50 From Paddington.
London: Collins for the Crime Club, 1957. [Crime Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's red cloth with black titles to spine. With the illustrated dust-jacket. Some offset toning to first and last leaves. Price-clipped jacket sunned to spine, small chip to foot of front panel. A crisp... More about 4.50 From Paddington
4.50 From Paddington.
London: Collins for the Crime Club, 1957. [Crime Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's red cloth with black titles to spine. With the illustrated dust-jacket. Neat gift inscription, toned to edges, slightly short price-clipped jacket with a few chips and tears, spine a little faded. Very good... More about 4.50 From Paddington
The ABC Murders.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1936. [Murder mystery] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm) pp.[x]; 306; [4], blank. Publisher's lemon yellow blue cloth blocked in dark green, top edge yellow, fore-edge untrimmed, illustrated dust-wrapper. A fine copy of the book in a near fine price-clipped jacket, with... More about The ABC Murders
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 about Akhnaton
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 about Appointment with Death
At Bertram's Hotel.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1965. [Detective novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine and pattern to boards, dust-jacket designed by Brian Russell with printed price of 16s net. Edges and endleaves lightly spotted, clean jacket a little toned to... More about At Bertram's Hotel
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 about The Boomerang Clue
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 about A Caribbean Mystery
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 priced at 12/6. Some dustiness/spotting to edges of text block, tear to rear joint, clean jacket has a few nicks and... More about Cat Among the Pigeons
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. Some minor toning to book block, light wear to jacket, a little rubbed to lower joint, price clipped. Very good indeed... More about Cat Among the Pigeons
The Clocks.
London: Collins, The Crime Club, 1963. [Detective novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's red cloth in dust-wrapper designed by Michael Harvey, priced at 16s. Neat ownership to flyleaf. Edges a little dusty/spotted, jacket with some creases, nicks and tears. Very good indeed. The son of Superintendent Battle... More about The Clocks
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. Octavo (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 about The Crime Collection. The Works include: Murder on the Orient Express, Evil Under the Sun, Death...
Crooked House.
London: Published for The Crime Club by Collins, 1949. [Mystery novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (18 x 13cm), pp.252; [4] advertisements. Publisher's orange hardback cloth binding, blocked to spine in black, illustrated dust-wrapper priced at 8/6. A fine copy of the book in near fine price-clipped wrapper, with a little edgewear... More about Crooked House
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 about Death Comes as The End
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 about Death Comes as The End
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 name beneath flap, cloth dusty/handled, some wear to crown, one small chip to rear panel, some edgewear and toning; shows well... More about Death Comes as The End
Death in the Clouds.
London: Published for The Crime Club by Collins, 1935. [Mystery novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (18 x 13cm), pp.252; [4], advertisements. Hand-bound in half mid-green calf, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with raised bands, matching green cloth sides. Contents clean, minor toning to edges of textblock, binding as new. A scarce... More about Death in the Clouds
Death in the Clouds.
London: Published for The Crime Club by Collins, 1935. [Mystery novel] SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (18 x 13cm), pp.252; [4], advertisements. Publisher's orange cloth lettered in black to spine. With presentation note to flyleaf; 'From Agatha Christie'. Contents lightly foxed and toned, vintage black and white image of the Christie... More about Death in the Clouds
Death On The Nile.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company. 1937. [Murder Mystery] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm) pp.326; [2], blank. Publisher's russet cloth pictorially blocked in black, top edge blue, fore edge untrimmed, illustrated dust-wrapper priced at $2.00. Contents very clean, unfortunate scratch/dink to top edge, some fading to same... More about Death On The Nile
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 about Destination Unknown
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 priced at 10/6. Edges spotted, no inscriptions, some general wear and tear, spine toned, jacket partially split along rear flap fold, but no other major defects; a very good... More about Destination Unknown
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 about Easy to Kill
Endless Night.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1967. [Thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13), pp.224. Elegantly hand-bound in half black calf over matching cloth sides, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with raised bands. A few minor marks to fore-edge otherwise a fine copy in an attractive recent leather binding. A.... More about Endless Night