"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
Towards Zero.
London: Collins, 1944. [Crime fiction] FIRST EDITION, Crime Club Edition. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.160. Publisher's orange cloth lettered in black to spine. Discreet ink number '69' to free endpapers, contents clean, some acceptable wear to covers, spine a little toned; very good. 'Towards Zero' marks the fifth and final..... More
Towards Zero.
London: Collins, 1944. [Detective fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.160. Publisher's orange cloth lettered in black to spine, illustrated dust-jacket designed by J.Z. Atkinson, priced at 7s. 6d. to front flap. Contents clean, neat owner name, some dustiness to covers and jacket, chipped at spine ends..... More
Towards Zero.
London: Collins, 1944. [Detective fiction] First impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.160. Publisher's orange cloth lettered in black to spine, illustrated dust-jacket designed by J.Z. Atkinson, priced at 7s. 6d. to front flap. Contents and edges clean, no inscriptions, jacket lightly worn to extremites, gently toned to spine. 'Towards Zero'..... More
Towards Zero.
London: Collins, 1944. [Detective fiction] First impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.160. Publisher's orange cloth lettered in black to spine, illustrated dust-jacket designed by J.Z. Atkinson, priced at 7s. 6d. to front flap. Contents and edges clean, no inscriptions, jacket with a little spotting/marking, spine toned, small chips to extremities..... More
Why Didn't they ask Evans?
The Crime Club, by Collins, London, 1950. [Detective Fiction] Vintage hardcover edition. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252; [2] ads. Ninth impression. Bound in publisher's red cloth lettered in black illustrated dust-wrapper by Gilbert Cousland priced at 4/6. Contents clean, no inscriptions, edges of text block toned/spotted, jacket is bright with..... More
Why Didn't they ask Evans?
London: The Crime Club, by Collins, 1934. [Detective Fiction] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252; [2] ads. Elegantly hand-bound in half navy blue calf, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with raised bands, matching cloth sides, top edge gilt. A few thumbmarks and spots, some reading marks..... More
Why Didn't they ask Evans?
The Crime Club, by Collins, London, 1934. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252; [2] ads. Bound in publisher's blue-green cloth, specifically for booksellers W.H.Smith, lettered in black cloth with 'CRIME CLUB' imprint to spine and 'WHS' monogram device to upper. An unusual variant. Contents clean..... More
Why Didn't they ask Evans?
The Crime Club, by Collins, London, 1934. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252; [2] ads. Publisher's orange cloth, lettered to spine in black. Some spotting and reading marks within, edges of text block are tanned, covers are dusty and rubbed, faded in placed, spine tips..... More
Why Didn't they ask Evans?
The Crime Club, by Collins, London, 1950. [Detective Fiction] Vintage hardcover edition. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252; [2] ads. Ninth impression. Bound in publisher's red cloth lettered in black illustrated dust-wrapper by Gilbert Cousland priced at 4/6. Contents clean, no inscriptions, edges of text block a little toned/spotted, jacket is..... More
![Item #67550 The Property of a Lady [within] A Treasury of Modern Mysteries. Ian Lancaster...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/67550.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1709573067)
The Property of a Lady [within] A Treasury of Modern Mysteries.
New York: Doubleday, 1973. [Thriller collection] FIRST EDITION thus. A Book Club-only publication. Two volumes, containing Ian Fleming's 1963 James Bond novella. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.463; 536. Bound in publisher's red and yellow cloth hardcovers, illustrated dust-jackets. Near fine in wrappers which are gently toned to the spine. Also..... More
Celebrity Cooking For You. Includes 'Scrambled Eggs James Bond'.
London: Andre Deutsch, 1961. [Cookery anthology] FIRST EDITION, SIGNED PRESENTATION COPY. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.260. With vignette illustrations within the text. Publisher's green cloth hardcovers in pictorial dust-jacket. Editor's inscription to the endpaper: "Renee Hellman - Christmas 1961", with recipient's name 'Dawn Field' above. A fine copy of the..... More
contribute 'The Living Daylights' and 'The Case of the Caretaker' to 'ELLERY QUEEN'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE.'
Holyoake, MA: Davis Publications, March 1969. [James Bond / Miss Marple] Original issue magazine format (20 x 14cm), pp.162, with colour covers. Minor wear to spine; a clean, fine copy. This issue also contains mysteries by Anthony Gilbert, Gerald Kersh and Lawrence Treat. Gilbert A14b, p.459-60. More
contribute 'The Living Daylights' and 'The Case of the Caretaker' to 'ELLERY QUEEN'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE'
Holyoake, MA: Davis Publications, March 1969. [James Bond / Miss Marple] Original issue magazine format (20 x 14cm), pp.162, with colour covers. Bibliographer's copy. Minor toning to spine, light wear to head and tail; a clean, fine copy. This issue also contains mysteries by Anthony Gilbert, Gerald Kersh and Lawrence..... More
The Chinese Maze Murders, a Chinese Detective Story Suggested by Three Original Ancient Chinese Plots.
The Hague and Bandung: W. Van Hoeve Ltd., 1956. [Detective fiction] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.302 [2]. With sixteen illustrations by the author. Publisher's black cloth with red titles to spine and upper, and a sketch-map to front endpapers. With the orange dust-jacket designed by the..... More
![Item #72079 Poirot and The Second Gong and The £10 Adventure [Mr. Parker Pyne], in The Strand...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/72079.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1748968385)
Poirot and The Second Gong and The £10 Adventure [Mr. Parker Pyne], in The Strand Magazine. Volume 84.
London: George Newnes, Ltd., 1932. [Literature/ Crime Fiction] FIRST APPEARANCES. Quarto (26 x 20cm), pp.674. Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Original magazine parts bound in a half-yearly volume of light blue cloth pictorially blocked in black to front covers, gilt to spine, all edges tinted blue. Ink name 'Alan..... More
![Item #72650 The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest [Hercule Poirot] in The Strand Magazine. Volume 83....](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/72650.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1752941877)
The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest [Hercule Poirot] in The Strand Magazine. Volume 83.
London: George Newnes, Ltd., January-June 1932. [Literature/ Crime Fiction] FIRST APPEARANCE. Quarto (26 x 20cm), pp.628. Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Original magazine parts bound in a half-yearly volume of light blue cloth pictorially blocked in black to front covers, gilt to spine. Contents clean, light spotting to endpapers..... More
![Item #72081 Yellow Iris [Hercule Poirot], Danger Point, and The Definite Article [Mr. Campion] in...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/72081.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1748968385)
Yellow Iris [Hercule Poirot], Danger Point, and The Definite Article [Mr. Campion] in The Strand Magazine. Volume 93.
London: George Newnes, Ltd., May to October 1937. [Literature/ Crime Fiction] FIRST APPEARANCES. Quarto (26 x 20cm), pp.672. Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Original magazine parts bound in a half-yearly volume of light blue cloth pictorially blocked in black to front covers, gilt to spine, all edges tinted blue..... More
Poirot and the Triangle at Rhodes and Poirot and the Regatta Mystery. Father Brown / The Vampire of the Village [in] The Strand Magazine. Volume 91.
London: George Newnes, Ltd., 1936. [Literature/ Crime Fiction] FIRST APPEARANCES. Quarto (26 x 20cm), pp.672. Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Original magazine parts bound in a half-yearly volume of light blue cloth pictorially blocked in black to front covers, gilt to spine, all edges tinted blue. Contents clean and..... More
![Item #72080 The Dream [Hercule Poirot], The Haunted Policeman [Lord Peter Wimsey] in The Strand...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/72080.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1748968385)
The Dream [Hercule Poirot], The Haunted Policeman [Lord Peter Wimsey] in The Strand Magazine. Volume 94.
London: George Newnes, Ltd., 1937-8. [Literature/ Crime Fiction] FIRST APPEARANCES. Quarto (26 x 20cm), pp.704. Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Original magazine parts bound in a half-yearly volume of light blue cloth pictorially blocked in black to front covers, gilt to spine, all edges tinted blue. Contents clean, covers..... More
![Item #72596 Yellow Iris [Hercule Poirot] in The Strand Magazine. No.559. Agatha CHRISTIE, P. G....](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/72596.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1753114503)
Yellow Iris [Hercule Poirot] in The Strand Magazine. No.559.
London: George Newnes, Ltd., 1937. [Literature/ Crime Fiction journal] FIRST UK APPEARANCE. Octavo magazine (26 x 19cm). Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Single issue, magazine format in colour illustrated paper covers. Original price 1 shilling. Contents clean but for light spots of foxing, promotional insert still present at rear..... More
'Poirot & the Crime in Cabin 66' in The Strand Magazine. Volume XC, number 539.
London: George Newnes, February 1936. [Literary Magazine] FIRST UK APPEARANCE. Octavo magazine (26 x 19cm). Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Single issue, magazine format in colour illustrated paper covers featuring a striking image of the Belgian detective in deep thought. Original price 1 shilling. Contents fine, some rubbing to..... More
'Poirot & the Crime in Cabin 66' in The Strand Magazine. Volume XC, number 539.
London: George Newnes, February 1936. [Literary Magazine] FIRST UK APPEARANCE. Octavo magazine (26 x 19cm). Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Single issue, magazine format in colour illustrated paper covers featuring a striking image of the Belgian detective in deep thought. Original price 1 shilling. Contents clean, creases to final..... More