Agatha Christie Paperback Firsts - 1930s.

Collecting Agatha Christie paperback first editions is a more affordable and attainable endeavour than seeking to collect all her first hardback editions in dust wrappers. That said, paperback collectors will still have expensive and rare books to find should a complete collection be sought. This new series will look at all the paperback first editions from the first, Partners in Crime, in 1932 to the last, Miss Marple's Final Cases, in 1980.

Defining a First Edition Paperback.

In creating this collectors guide, I had to consider a variety of variables which led me to establish the structure and ground rules for how the list is compiled. These are as follows:

1.      Paperbacks were not published in the same chronology as hardbacks. My list is based on chronology – i.e. from first paperback onwards. Thus, Partners in Crime is first on the list as it is the oldest known Christie paperback, not The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

2.      Only English-language printings are being considered. There may be a few occurrences when the first paperback was in a foreign language. For example, in May 1940 Le Masque (France) published Dix Petits Negres (And Then There Were None). I believe this preceded any English language paperback of this title. It is the first occurrence I’m aware of where the first paperback was in a language other than English.

3.      When the first paperback was not printed in England, then the first English edition is also referenced since many collectors seek these editions. 

4.      Excluded from consideration are paper-covered books that are not clearly documented as paperbacks. These include advance reading copies and proof printings. Also excluded from inclusion are the known paper-covered Collins ‘Bob’ novels from the late 1920s and early 1930s. My research has led me to believe these were not official paperbacks but more likely salesman or store samples, about which I will write an article at some stage.

5.      Some short story collections may have variances between hardback and paperback printings. This even occurred with hardbacks – such as the difference in the stories included in various British and American titles (i.e. Poirot Investigates). In most cases if the majority of the stories are consistent, I am viewing it as the first paperback. The one exception I'm making is with Partners in Crime which Collins split into two paperback editions which I discuss below. Together they make the complete first paperback edition.

6.      Some American paperback printings are abridged. This mostly occurred when the serialised magazine text was used, or the book was subject to paper rationing during the war.  In addition to making note of this in the listing, the first unabridged printing will be listed. Also, consistent with rule No. 2, if the first unabridged printing is not British, then the British printing will also be provided.

If you are interested in reading about the first paperback appearances of Christie’s first six hardback novels – those published by The Bodley Head – then click this link.  In this article I look at exclusively at the paperbacks that correspond with those novels.

The 1930s.

1932 saw the first official Agatha Christie paperback appear for sale. Over the rest of the 1930s, a total of 26 Agatha Christie books (novels and short story collections) were published as paperbacks. Because Partners in Crime was split into two volumes, there are 27 paperbacks for collectors to find should they want to build a complete collection of these early printings.

1932.

02/1932: Partners in Crime, Collins, London. 6d larger format paperback. Series No. 90. This book only contains half the stories of the hardback. The other half was published in 1933 in a collection titled The Sunningdale Mystery.

Collecting Insights: The artwork on the cover was sourced from the original first edition hardback wrapper. A wide red surround appears on this first printing. In 1933 and onwards, Collins adopted a green surround which became their standard colour.

03/1932: The Murder on the Links, John Lane The Bodley Head, London. 9d larger format paperback. Collecting Insight: This is one of only two paperbacks The Bodley Head issued in the 1930s related to the six Christie books they had publishing rights to. Surprisingly, the other four titles (The Secret Adversary, Poirot Investigates, The Secret of Chimneys, & The Man in the Brown Suit) were never published in this format.

07/1932: The Mysterious Affair at Styles, John Lane The Bodley Head, London. 9d larger format paperback.

1933.

02/1933: The Sunningdale Mystery, Collins, London. 6d larger format paperback (chapters 11 – 22 of Partners in Crime). Series No. unknown (if any collector has this book with the edition number still visible on the spine, please let me know).

Collecting Insights: A later version of Partners in Crime does appear in a green cover. I expect that this second state was first issued in 1933 as a companion title to The Sunningdale Mystery collection.  However, this is speculation on my behalf. Thoughts and insights from other collectors is most welcome.

10/1933: Lord Edgware Dies, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 115.

First British Edition: 04/1935, Collins 6d larger format paperback. Series No. 205.

Collecting Insights: The Albatross books were issued with dust wrappers. If you can find one in the wrapper it is certainly more valuable. The design on the jacket essentially mirrors the underlying book, so it can be hard to tell if you are looking at an online listing. Ask for more details from the seller if in doubt. Only about a quarter of the books that show up for sale appear to still have these jackets. Lastly, note the 'hooded gunman' logo showing its close partnership with Collins' Crime Club.

1934.

03/1934: The Seven Dials Mystery, Collins, London. 6d larger format paperback. Series No. 163.

04/1934: The Mysterious Mr. Quin, Collins, London. 6d larger format paperback. Series No. 174.

Collecting Insights: As shown here with the book at an angle, you can see the Series No. was placed at the foot of the spine. Having a complete spine with this number present is highly desirable an improves the value significantly.

?/1934: Murder on the Orient Express, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 121. 

First British Edition: 04/1936 (8^th printing): Collins White Circle No. 1.

Collecting Insights: It will be dated March 1936 despite being published in April and it states it is the 8th printing as hardbacks were considered. These White Circle printings are now smaller than earlier paperbacks but more in line with what we consider a paperback size today. The Collins paperback was originally issued with a dust wrapper and the first state of this title only lists books 1 through 6 on the rear (see image above). Note: Any Collins White Circle book in the list below whose Series Number is lower than 88 would also have been issued in a jacket.

1935.

01/1935: The Big Four, Collins, London. 6d larger format paperback. Series No. 186.

?/1935: Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 133.

First British Edition: 06/1936 (4^th printing): Collins White Circle No. 9.

?/1935: Parker Pyne Investigates, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 138.

First British Edition: 05/1953: Penguin No. 932.

?/1935: Three Act Tragedy, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 140.

First British Edition: 07/1935 (4^th edition): Collins White Circle No. 13. Note: The image shown is a later printing. If anyone has the correct 1935 first state edition, please share a photo for inclusion.

Collecting Insights: While the specific month of publication for The Albatross edition is unknown, these European printings in English consistently preceded any paperback printing in Britain. Thus, I'm taking the position that it preceded Collins' edition published in July.

1936.

1/1936: The Murder at the Vicarage, Collins, London. 6d larger format paperback. Series No. 225.

?/1936: Death in the Clouds, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 147.

First British Edition: 01/1939 (5^th edition): Collins White Circle No. 51.

?/1936: The Hound of Death, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 156.

First British Edition: 07/1960: Pan No. G377.

?/1936: The A.B.C. Murders, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 159.

First British Edition: 04/1939 (6^th edition): Collins White Circle No. 63.

1937.

1/1937: Peril at End House, Collins, London. 6d larger format paperback. Series No.  267.

2/1937: The Sittaford Mystery, Collins, London. 6d larger format paperback. Series No. 279.

3/1937: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Collins White Circle, London. Series No. 19.

?/1937: Murder in Mesopotamia, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 168.

First British Edition: 03/1940 (7^th edition): Collins White Circle No. 94.

?/1937: Cards on the Table, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 176.

First British Edition: 07/1951: Pan No. 176.

Image Request: I am lacking an image for the front of these two Albatross books, as well as Collins White Circle 94. If someone has any of these missing images, please share it at collectchristie@gmail.com so that I can add them to the article. Thank you!

1938.

3/1938: The Listerdale Mystery, Collins, London. 6d larger format paperback. Series No. 321.

4/1938: The Thirteen Problems, Collins, London. 6d larger format paperback. Series No. 332.

Collecting Insight: This is the last of the Christie paperbacks in this format. From now on, Collins only publishes the Christie paperbacks in their White Circle format which began two years earlier.

5/1938: Murder in the Mews and Other Stories, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 411.

First British Edition: 1954: Pan No. 303.

12/1938: Dumb Witness, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 428. 

First British Edition: 03/1949: Pan No. 82.

1939.

5/1939: Death on the Nile, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 438.

First British Edition: 04/1949: Pan No. 87.

c.8/1939: Appointment with Death, The Albatross Crime Club, Hamburg, Paris, Bologna. Series No. 444.

First British Edition: 01/1941 (4^th edition): Collins White Circle No. 119.

In Part Two, I will provide details on all first paperback printings from the 1940s. Future installements will continue to detail first printings, decade by decade.

Values.

The two John Lane paperbacks cited above are exceptionally rare and values could easily exceed £500 if in ‘very good’ condition. The early Collins 6d paperbacks are also all very scarce. Recent online sales and auction results generally attribute a value of £200 - £300 for one of these paperbacks in ‘very good’ condition.  That said, since sales are few and far between, the sale price at auction could be quite varied depending on the number of interested bidders. I believe these books have the potential to be significantly more valuable over time. For all of these books when they do show up they often have damage or wear that is significant which is a shame, so ‘very good’ examples are more uncommon.

The Albatross Crime Club books seem to have vanished from availability over the last year since I first started writing about them. An unjacketed book typically has a value of £75 - £100, while a jacketed book is worth double.  The main issue is sourcing them – they are very difficult to find.

The Collins White Circle books noted above will sell for £20 without a jacket, but up to £150 with a complete ‘very good’ jacket present. If the book has a later edition jacket, then it is worth ~50% of a correct first state jacket. These jacketed books do show up with some regularity for sale, so collectors can be patient when seeking a particular edition or condition.  From No. 88 onwards (all unjacketed books), prices are generally very affordable (£10 - £20).

The early Pan first British editions discussed above are generally worth £20 - £30 in ‘very good’ condition. Collectors will still need to be patient. The correct first states of these printings do not often appear for sale.

As with all book purchases, since there are many reprints of these titles be cautious if the listing is not complete. Always ask for images of the copyright page, as well as the rear covers to be certain what you are buying.

Comments.

Do let me know if you have corrections, edits, additional information or images that will improve this article. You can reach me by email at collectchristie@gmail.com, or via my Social Media platforms (details below), or by adding a comment to this article.

Upcoming Speaking Events.

16-Sept-2025: Cornwall, England.  I will also be speaking at an event for U3A (The University of the Third Age) in Launceston, Cornwall on Tuesday 16th September, from 10 am - 12 noon. The event will be open to all and will be about 'Agatha Christie & The West Country'. I'll be talking about her books, plays and short-stories specifically set in Cornwall and Devon. Location: Eagle House Hotel, 3 Castle Street, Launceston, PL15 8BA. £5 admission at the door – cash only. Organised by Launceston & District u3a. If you have additional questions contact me or the organizer, Georgie at u3achair45@macace.net

18-Sept-2025: Devon, England. Later that week, I speak at the International Agatha Christie Festival on Thursday 18th September. The event is sold out, but many other literary and fringe festival events still have tickets available. More details and tickets can be found at: https://www.iacf-uk.org/festival-2025

I'm also attending many of the events, both literary and fringe, and look forward to spending time with fellow Christie enthusiasts.

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Happy Collecting.