Collier's Magazine's Christie Stories (Part 2)

This article is the second and final instalment looking at the Agatha Christie novels and short-stories serialised by Collier’s magazine in the U.S. To read the first article and gain insights into the background of Collier’s, please go to this link.

As mentioned in that prior article, I believe these publications are appealing to collect, especially when they are the true first printings or were accompanied by original illustrations portray to us how Christie's were viewed through the lens of that period of time.

Collier's - The National Weekly.

This magazine is important for all collectors of Christie’s works to be familiar with. Founded in 1888 by Peter Fenelon Collier, it published 11 Agatha Christie novels and short stories from 1934 through to 1956. All but 2 were the first global appearances of the stories and all were illustrated, making them highly appealing to collectors.

The two short stories were: In a Glass Darkly and Four and Twenty Blackbirds.

The eleven novels were: Appointment with Death; Dead Man’s Folly; Evil Under the Sun; Five Little Pigs; Hercule Poirot’s Christmas; Hickory Dickory Dock; One, Two, Buckle My Shoe; Sad Cypress; The Hollow; The Moving Finger; Towards Zero.

No later stories were published as the magazine effectively ceased operations at the start of 1957. This is the second of the two articles that examines all the printings in chronological order. Part One covers 1934 to 1940. All the covers of the issues and the images that accompanied the articles from 1941 onwards are shared below, along with collecting tips and valuations.

Part 2: September 1941 – August 1956.

Five Little Pigs: 1941, 20 September (Vol. 108, No. 12) to 22 November 1941 (Vol. 108, No. 21) under the alternate title Murder in Retrospect. Illustrated by Mario Cooper. First global appearance. Here are the ten covers to look for:

And here are all the accompanying illustrations - two from the first instalment and then one per issue and shown chronologically:

The Moving Finger: 1942, 28 March (Vol. 109, No. 13) to 16 May (Vol. 109, No. 20). Illustrated by Mario Cooper. First global appearance. Here are the eight covers:

Here are the nine illustrations (two from the first issue) shown in order:

Towards Zero: 1944, 6 May (vol. 113 no. 19) to 20 May (vol. 113 no. 21), under the alternate title Come and Be Hanged! Illustrated by Charles La Salle. First global appearance. Now serialised over only three issues. Here are the three covers:

Here are the four illustrations - including a full double page spread from part one:

The Hollow: 1946, 4 May (Vol. 117, No. 18) and 25 May (Vol. 117, No. 21) under the alternate title of The Outraged Heart. Illustrated by Mario Cooper. First global appearance. The illustration from the first instalment was used on the cover of the first American paperback, published by Pocket Books, though it was cropped and reversed. Here are the four covers:

Here are the five illustrations.I've included the Pocket Book paperback in the middle that reused the art from the first issue:

Hickory Dickory Dock: 1955, October 14 (Vol. 136, No. 8) to November 11 (Vol. 136, No. 10) under the slightly alternate title Hickory Dickory Death. Illustrated by Robert Fawcett. First American appearance, preceded in the UK by its publication in John Bull magazine. Here are the three covers (note: there was no Nov 4 issue):

Here are the three illustrations:

Dead Man's Folly: 1956, 20 July (Vol. 138, No. 2) to 17 August (Vol. 138, No. 4). Illustrated by Robert Fawcett. First global appearance. Here are the three covers. Note that there was no July 27 or August 10 issue:

Here are the three illustrations:

Values and Collecting Tips.

When collecting magazines, there is frequently more value to be achieved by sourcing copies that are not marketed as a complete Agatha Christie set. Buying individual issues or random sets and building your own complete set per story will likely be the most affordable way to collect them. It is also quite good fun to have a checklist of all the issues you want and over time check them off the list as you acquire them. Knowing the specific issues you want is important as many vendors of Collier’s magazines solely show the covers and fall to be specific about the contents. In addition, Collier’s did not always reference Christie’s name on the cover even if her work was included. This is why I’ve included images of all the covers for each title’s issues.

As to condition, expect most American magazines from the mid-20^th century to have address labels affixed. Damage to the spine, separation of covers, dirt and wear are all common. While I don't often talk about how to restore and preserve old books and magazines, most flaws can generally be improved or stablised with the right materials and skill. If magazine repair appeals to you, consider viewing related videos on YouTube or reading books about conservation. In addition, I do recommend storing magazines in acid-free clear sleeves to avoid further damage.

Online platforms such as eBay and Etsy are good places to source these magazines at affordable prices, and most will be found in the States. Book specific sites such as ABEbooks and Alibris will generally offer preassembled sets at higher prices. Collier's was a widely read publication and copies were frequently kept which means vintage issues are still affordable. Fair value for a complete single issue in 'very good' condition is $15-20 (£12-15). Occasionally bundles of issues will be found that provide excellent value. I expect values for these magazines to increase over time both as the awareness of them as true first printings and for the appeal of the artwork.

Corrections, Edits, Recommendations.

I always value reader input to make my articles more accurate. So if there are any additions or corrections you'd like to provide, please email me at collectchristie@gmail.com 

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Happy Reading & Collecting!