"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
![Elephants Can Remember. [A Hercule Poirot Story]. Agatha CHRISTIE](/pictures/thumb/62264.jpg?v=1655740143)
Elephants Can Remember. [A Hercule Poirot Story].
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1972. [Crime Mystery] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.xii; 243 [1]. Publisher's pink quarter cloth, with black and gilt titles to spine, and grey and pink patterned paper over boards. Top edge and endpapers pink. With the dust-jacket designed by J...... More
![Elephants Can Remember. [A Hercule Poirot Story]. Agatha CHRISTIE](/pictures/thumb/62304.jpg?v=1656084486)
Elephants Can Remember. [A Hercule Poirot Story].
London: The Crime Club, 1972. [Detective fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.256; [2] blank. Publisher's patterned red cloth with gilt titles to spine, in pictorial dust-jacket priced £1.60. No inscriptions. A little dusty and toned; near fine. A late but essential Poirot novel. 'Christie is at her most..... More
2 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. Printed foreword as pastedown. Publisher's cloth in illustrated dust-wrapper by Vernon L Soper. Contents toned as expected, jacket very lightly worn with a few small nicks. A most attractive..... More
4.50 From Paddington.
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1957. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[4] 256 [6]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins ruled in gilt..... More
4.50 From Paddington.
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1957. [Crime Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's red cloth with black titles to spine. With the red and black illustrated dust-jacket, priced clipped. Some dustiness and toning, faint erasure to rear panel, spine is not faded. Uncommon thus..... More
After the Funeral.
London: Collins for the Crime Club, 1953. [Crime Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.192. Publisher's orange cloth with black titles to spine, dust-jacket designed by Beytagh, priced at 10/6. No inscriptions. A near fine copy of the book, in a lightly used wrapper with a few minor nicks..... 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 Carribean Mystery, The Mystery of The Blue Train, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Ten Little Niggers, 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 Plae 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, 1969-1970. [Mystery / Crime] LEATHER BOUND SET. In 24 volumes. Octavo (20 x 14 x 82cm). Elegantly bound in mid brown half oasis morocco, with raised bands, gilt titles to contrasting red and green labels, and further gilt decoration to spines. Marbled paper over boards; top edges..... 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 Carribean Mystery, The Mystery of The Blue Train, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Ten Little Niggers, 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 Plae 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, 1969-1970. [Mystery / Crime] LEATHER BOUND SET. In 24 volumes. Octavo (20 x 14 x 82cm). Handsomely bound in half terracotta oasis morocco, with raised bands, gilt titles to contrasting orange and olive green labels, and further gilt decoration to spines. Marbled paper over boards; top edges..... More
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. [Hercule Poirot]. Agatha CHRISTIE, Dame](/pictures/thumb/61268.jpg?v=1647105247)
Appointment with Death. [Hercule Poirot].
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1938. [Crime fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.252 [10]. Elegantly bound in half red oasis morocco over cloth sides, spine ruled in six compartments with raised bands, lettered in gilt. A few light and occasional spots else internally clean and..... More
At Bertram's Hotel.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1965. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins ruled in gilt, with gilt motifs of..... More
At Bertram's Hotel.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1965. [Crime Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's brick red cloth with gilt titles to spine and black weave-decoration to boards. With the dust-jacket designed by Brian Russell. Discreet ink ownership. Fine in a near fine wrapper which is toned to..... More
At Bertram's Hotel.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1966. [Crime Mystery] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[12] 272 [4]. Publisher's red quarter cloth, with black and gilt titles to spine, and red cloth-effect paper over boards. Top edge and endpapers red. With the illustrated dust-jacket priced at $4.50. A...... More
At Bertram's Hotel.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1965. [Crime Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's brick red cloth with gilt titles to spine and black weave-decoration to boards. With the dust-jacket designed by Brian Russell. Exceptionally clean and fresh. An unquestionably fine copy. When Miss Marple comes up..... 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
By The Pricking Of My Thumbs.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1968. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.255; [1]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins ruled in gilt, with gilt motifs..... More
By The Pricking Of My Thumbs.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1968. [Crime fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.255; [1] advertisement. Publisher's mid green cloth in yellow dust-wrapper designed by Kenneth Farnhill priced 21s. Top edge a little toned, some minor wear to same otherwise a clean, fine copy. The fourth of five..... More
By The Pricking Of My Thumbs.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1968. [Crime Mystery] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.x; 275 [3]. Publisher's pink quarter cloth, with black and gilt titles to spine, and black paper over boards. Top edge pink. With the dust-jacket designed by Salem Tamer. Light toning and spotting..... More
By The Pricking Of My Thumbs.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1968. [Crime fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.255; [1] advertisement. Publisher's mid green cloth in yellow dust-wrapper designed by Kenneth Farnhill priced 21s. No inscriptions. A clean, fine copy in similar jacket, slightly age-toned to the spine. The fourth of five books..... More
Cards on the Table.
London: Published for the Crime Club by Collins, 1936. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[4] 286 [8]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins ruled in gilt..... More
A Caribbean Mystery.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1965. [Crime Mystery] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.x; 245 [1]. Publisher's green quarter cloth, with black and gilt titles to spine, and green cloth-effect paper over boards. Top edge and endpapers green. With the illustrated dust-jacket priced at $4.50. Crisp..... More
A Caribbean Mystery.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1964. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Bound in publisher's red cloth, printed with black cloth pattern, with gilt titles to spine, illustrated dust-wrapper priced at 16s. Book is fine, jacket with some minor dustiness and a fraction toned to the..... More
Cat Among the Pigeons.
London: The Crime Club by Collins, 1959. [Crime fiction] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.255; [1]. Finely bound by the Baker Bindery, Anniston, Alabama in green full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, green patterned paste-paper endpapers, generous turn-ins ruled in gilt, with gilt motifs..... More
Cat Among the Pigeons.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1960. [Crime Mystery] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.224. Publisher's grey leatherette, with purple titles to spine, and a purple 'Red Badge Detective' device to upper. Top edge pink, fore-edge untrimmed. With the dust-jacket designed by Salem Tamer, priced at $2.95..... More
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. No inscriptions, jacket with minor toning to edges, a few tiny nick and one neat (stabilised) tear to..... More