Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$5814.78 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Agatha Christie (1922) The Secret Adversary, UK first edition, first printing, published by The Bodley Head. Accompanied by an original typed letter signed by Christie as Agatha Mallowan. The book: in very good condition and well preserved for a book from 1922. There are no previous owners scribbles, no names, no bookplates, no stamps. The lettering on the spine is clearly legible and not rubbed out. The front boards ornaments are there with just a little rubbing. Rear board is clean. Usual shelf wear to edges. Page block edges not foxed, toned commensurate with age. Internally faint foxing spots here and there such as on our sample image of page 55. The original dust jacket is not present. However, we do provide a facsimile dust jacket which presents and protects the book on the shelf nicely. Those early Christie original dust jackets are exceptionally scarce and add considerable sums to the price. The letter: one page, 8vo, on Christies stationary paper with Winterbrook House header, dated 18th February 1972 [exactly fifty years after The Secret Adversarys publication in 1922]. In the letter to John Higgins, Christie counts that by then she had published 81 books, the same number as her age. She further says that she know nothing about the exact number of sales, but notes that they increase every year. She signs as Agatha Mallowan. John Dalby Higgins (1934-1999) was a journalist and Arts Editor for The Times (1970-1988). In 1972 he asked Christie whether she would be willing to serve a judge for a Times short story competition to which Christie agreed. Higgins needed from Christie some background information to introduce her to the readership. Hence, this letter. In fine condition with two paperclip indentations to the top left corner as shown. The Secret Adversary is Dame Agatha Christies second novel only preceeded by The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1921). It was received well upon publication. A first German film adaptation followed in 1929 (silent film called Die Abenteurer G.m.b.H.). A TV adaptation follows in 1983 and as recently as 2014 produced by the BBC. First and Fine
Seller: First and Fine, Birmingham, United Kingdom