"If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all. "
— Oscar Wilde
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
Murder In Mesopotamia (A Hercule Poirot novel).
London: For the Crime Club by Collins, 1936. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.284 [4]. Publisher's orange cloth, lettered to spine in black. Contents are clean. Minor toning/dustiness to edges of text block, discreet owner name 'Kit Martin' to endpaper, cloth is sun bleached, more..... More
Murder In The Mews. 4 Poirot Stories.
London: Odhams Press Ltd, no date (1938). [Detective mysteries] Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.280. Publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spine, code 'C338' to copyright page denoting 1928 as date printed, illustrated dust-wrapper. No inscriptions, some light foxing within, covers near fine. In a very good jacket with some..... More
Murder In The Mews. 4 Poirot Stories.
London: For The Crime Club by Collins, 1937. [Detective mysteries] TRUE FIRST EDITION. Octavo (18 x 12cm), pp.[ii]; 280; [4], advertisements; [2], blank. Secondary (Times or W.H.Smith style) binding of red cloth titled in black. No ink names, edges dusty/foxed, some spotting within, no losses or tears, cloth is clean..... More
A Murder Is Announced (Facsimile edition with decorative sash).
London: William Collins, 2005. [Crime Mystery] FACSIMILE EDITION reprint. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's red cloth blocked in silver. With the illustrated dust-jacket, and the wraparound band advertising 'The Miss Marple Facsimile Series' priced at £12.99. A clean, fine copy. Not to be confused with the Christie Book Collection..... More
A Murder is Announced.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1950. [Detective mystery] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's red cloth lettered in black, illustrated dust-jacket priced at 8s 6d to front flap. Contents clean, no inscriptions, edges uniformly toned, bookstore stamp to free endpaper (The English Bookstore, Athens), covers..... More
A Murder is Announced.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1950. [Detective mystery] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's red cloth lettered in black, illustrated dust-jacket priced at 8s 6d to front flap. Contents clean, ink name and date to endpaper, jacket rather used; chips and tears to extremities, some..... More
Murder Is Easy.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1939. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (18 x 13cm), pp.254; [2], advertisements. Publisher's orange cloth with black titles to spine, in pictorial dust-jacket. A moderately used copy with some toning/marking to edges of text block, jacket chipped to spine ends, rubbed to..... More
Murder Is Easy.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1949. [Detective Fiction] Vintage hardcover, fourth impression. Octavo (18 x 13cm), pp.254; [2], advertisements. Publisher's orange cloth with black titles to spine, in pictorial dust-jacket. Contents clean, some light handling and spotting/dustiness, price clipped jacket shows careful use with some discreet and expert repair..... More
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
London: W. Collins and Sons and Co. Ltd., 1926. [Crime Fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.312. Bound in publisher's dark blue cloth, red lettered title and border, with titles in red to spine. A well-used copy with some condition issues but text is complete; lacks endpaper..... More
The Murder On The Links.
London: Harper Collins, 2007. [Crime Mystery] FACSIMILE EDITION, first reprint. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.viii; 319; [1], blank; [8], ads; [2], blank. Publisher's red cloth blocked in black. With the illustrated dust-jacket. Contents clean, jacket is bright and fresh. Not to be confused with the Christie Book Collection series of..... More
Murder on the Orient Express.
London: Published for the Crime Club Ltd. by W. Collins Sons & Co. Ltd, 1934. [Crime Mystery] FIRST EDITION, fourth impression (one month after the first). Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254; [2], ads. Publisher's black cloth with orange titles to spine and upper. Facsimile wrapper supplied by previous owner. A...... More
The Mysterious Affair At Styles.
London: John Lane The Bodley Head Limited, 1923. [Crime thriller] FIRST CHEAP EDITION, later classed as the 'Popular edition'. Fourth printing overall. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.296. Publisher's green cloth blocked in darker green to spine and upper board. No inscriptions, edges of text block gently toned, 'Times Book Club'..... More
The Mysterious Affair At Styles.
London: John Lane, the Bodley Head, 1921. [Crime fiction] ADVANCE REVIEW COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[4] 296 [6]. Elegantly hand-bound in burgundy full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, two-line gilt fillet to boards, marbled endpapers, original decorated cloth covers bound in at..... More
The Mysterious Affair At Styles.
London: The Bodley Head, 1952. [Crime thriller] CHEAP EDITION, 14th impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.192. Publisher's blue cloth with red titles to spine. With the illustrated dust-jacket priced at 6s. Black ink ownership of Ann Seabrook to fly-leaf, with some toning to edges, otherwise internally clean. Cloth toned to..... More
The Mysterious Mr. Quin.
London: W.Collins Sons and Co. Ltd., 1930. [Mystery novel] FIRST EDITION, primary binding (later in blue). Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.287; [1], imprint. Publisher's black cloth lettered and trimmed in red. No inscriptions, contents clean, page edges gently toned, binding shows careful use with some shelf wear and rubbing to..... More
The Mysterious Mr. Quin.
London: W.Collins Sons and Co. Ltd., 1930. [Mystery novel] FIRST EDITION, primary binding (later in blue). Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.287; [1], imprint. Publisher's black cloth lettered and trimmed in red. No inscriptions, contents clean, page edges gently toned, marginal dampmark to endpapers and covers, cloth a little wrinkled/soiled, some..... More
N or M?
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1941. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.192. Publisher's orange cloth with black titles to spine. With the dust-jacket designed by Thompson, not priced (an export copy). A small notation of 'First Edition' in black ink inside front..... More
N or M?
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1941. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.192. Hand-bound in deep red half calf over cloth sides, spine ruled in six compartments with raised bands, lettered in gilt. Contents clean, exterior as new. A fine copy in an attractive recent..... More
N or M?
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1941. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.192. Publisher's orange cloth with black titles to spine. With the dust-jacket designed by Thompson, priced at 7/6. Contents clean, a few small spots to edge, ink note to free endpaper..... More
N or M?
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1941. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.192. Publisher's orange cloth with black titles to spine. Contents clean, edges toned, no ink inscriptions to endpaper, cloth with some discolouration to spine, generally sound. With a complimentary facsimile wrapper..... More
N or M?
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1941. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.192. Publisher's orange cloth with black titles to spine. With the dust-jacket designed by Thompson. A murdered government agent leaves a cryptic message, which Tommy and Tuppence Beresford must decipher; this..... More
Nemesis.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1971. [Crime fiction] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Elegantly hand-bound in half burgundy calf over marbled paper-covered sides, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with traditional raised bands, twin black morocco title labels, sewn endbands. Internally clean and bright, exterior..... More
![Item #74380 Nemesis. [A Miss Jane Marple Story]. Agatha CHRISTIE, Dame](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/74380.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1772126776)
Nemesis. [A Miss Jane Marple Story].
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1971. [Murder mystery] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's orange cloth with gilt titles to spine. With the silver-grey typographic dust-jacket priced £1.50. Ownership label to rear pastedown, with some minor spotting to edges and endpapers; upper hinge strengthened with..... More
![Item #75986 Nemesis. [A Miss Jane Marple Story]. Agatha CHRISTIE, Dame](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/75986.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1786551784)
Nemesis. [A Miss Jane Marple Story].
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1971. [Murder mystery] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's orange cloth with gilt titles to spine. With the silver-grey typographic dust-jacket priced £1.50. Contents and edges clean, no ink writing, jacket is bright and fresh with some trivial edge wear..... More
One Two Buckle My Shoe.
London: For The Crime Club, by Collins, 1940. [Detective fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. A Poirot mystery. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252; [3] advertisements; [1] blank. Publishers' orange cloth with black titles, illustrated dust-jacket, correctly priced at 7/6. Contents clean and bright, neat ink name to endpaper 'Richard Rennick Christmas..... More