NGAIO MARSH
When scholars and critics refer to the greatest British women detective story writers, the first three names that leap to the top of the list are Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and Ngaio Marsh (1899-1982), the New Zealand author whose tall, lean, handsome, aristocratic detective, Roderick Alleyn appeared in all of her novels. Among the most human of the idealized characters of Golden Age mysteries, Inspector (later Superintendent) Alleyn of New Scotland Yard performs brilliantly without ever condescending to his colleagues or the people with whom he interacts. He is one of the giants of the genre, as is his creator. A word to collectors: Putting together a collection of English first editions in fine condition and in fine dust jackets is virtually impossible. For the pre-WWII titles, you will generally need to content yourself with nice unjacketed copies or first U.S. editions, which aren’t thick on the ground, either.
Enter a Murderer, N.Y., Sheridan House, 1942. First U.S. edition of the author’s second book. Name and white-out on front endpapers, jacket flap pasted inside rear cover, else very good. $35.00
The Nursing Home Murder, Boston, Little, Brown, 1972. First LB edition (originally published in 1934; co-authored with Dr. H. Jellett). Fine in chipped dust jacket. $12.50
Vintage Murder, N.Y., Sheridan House, 1940. First U.S. edition. A tiny mark on front cover, initials on front endpaper, else a fine copy in the very scarce dust jacket, which has a chip on front panel and is worn at spine ends and hinges. $275.00
Another copy, Boston, Little, Brown, 1972. First thus. Tiny tape mark on front endpapers, else very fine in chipped dust jacket. $12.50
Artists in Crime, N.Y., Grosset & Dunlap, 1938. Reprint. Very good. $15.00
Overture to Death, N.Y., Lee Furman, 1940. First U.S. edition. Small tape ghost on endpapers, rubber stamp on front endpaper, remains of label on rear endpaper, else a fine clean copy. $45.00
Another copy. Ex-library. Tight, clean reading copy. $20.00
Death of a Peer, Boston, Little, Brown, 1940. First U.S. edition of A Surfeit of Lampreys. A hint of sunning to the spine, but overall a fine, fresh copy. $45.00
Colour Scheme, Boston, Little, Brown, 1943. 6th printing. Same format and binding as the 1st. Very good in chipped dust jacket. $20.00
Another copy. Second printing. Very good. $17.50
Another copy. Book club edition. Very good. $10.00
Final Curtain, London, Collins Crime Club, 1947. First edition. Near fine in dust jacket, which is chipped at spine ends and has a one-inch tear on front panel. $60.00
Final Curtain, Boston, Little, Brown, 1947. First U.S. edition. Fine in dust jacket with faded spine. $35.00
Another copy. Fine. $20.00
Swing, Brother, Swing, London, Collins Crime Club, 1949. First edition. Apart from a bit of foxing to fore-edges, an immaculate, virtually as new, copy in a sharp, bright dust jacket with the merest trace of wear at spinal extremities. $250.00
Another copy. First edition. Name, bit of sunning to top of front panel, else about fine in a very good dust jacket. $75.00
A Wreath for Rivera, Boston, Little Brown, 1949. Second U.S. edition of Swing, Brother, Swing. Fine in worn dust jacket. $20.00
Night at the Vulcan, Boston, Little, Brown, 1951. First U.S. edition of Opening Night. Name on front endpaper, else fine in dust jacket which has light wear at top of spine and along front hinge. $20.00
Another copy. Spine darkend, else very good in rubbed dust jacket. $15.00
Spinsters in Jeopardy, Boston, Little, Brown, 1953. First U.S. edition. Initial on front endpaper, spot on fore-edge, else fine in rubbed dust jacket. $20.00
Death of a Fool, Boston, Little, Brown, 1956. First edition (precedes British edition). Very fine sharp copy in dust jacket with a sunned spine. $45.00
Another copy. Rear cover stained, else very good in faded dust jacket. $25.00
Another copy. Library stamp on front endpaper, no other marks. Covers soiled, else very good in dust jacket. $20.00
Another copy. Book club edition. Very good in dust jacket. $10.00
Off with His Head, London, Collins Crime Club, 1957. First U.K. edition of Death of a Fool. Very fine in dust jacket with a small, nearly invisible tear on front panel. $100.00
Another copy. Label removed from front endpaper, else very good in near fine, bright dust jacket. $35.00
Singing in the Shrouds, Boston, Little, Brown, 1958. First edition (precedes British edition). Fine in chipped dust jacket. $20.00
False Scent, London, Collins Crime Club, 1960. First edition. Fine in dust jacket, which is chipped at top of spine. $42.50
Hand in Glove, London, Collins Crime Club, 1962. First edition. Fine in brilliant dust jacket. $100.00
Another copy. Name on front endpaper, else very fine in dust jacket with a tiny chip on the front cover. $60.00
Another copy. Small crease on front endpaper, else very fine in dust jacket with a bit of wear at base of spine. $60.00
Dead Water, Boston, Little, Brown, 1963. First edition (precedes British edition). Fine in dust jacket. $30.00
Another copy. Names on front endpaper, else near fine in dust jacket. $20.00
Another copy. Second printing. Very good in dust jacket. $12.50
Dead Water, London, Collins Crime Club, 1964. First U.K. edition. Very fine in dust jacket. $75.00
Death at the Dolphin, London, Collins Crime Club, 1967. First edition. Very fine, crisp copy in dust jacket. $100.00
Killer Dolphin, Boston, Little, Brown, 1967. First U.S. edition of Death at the Dolphin. Fine in dust jacket. $30.00
Another copy. Book club edition. Fine in dust jacket. $10.00
Clutch of Constables, London, Collins Crime Club, 1968. First edition. Very fine in dust jacket. $75.00
Another copy. Very fine in dust jacket with slightly sunned spine. $65.00
Another copy. Name on front endpaper, else very fine in price-clipped dust jacket. $45.00
Another copy. Light stain to lower corner of some pages, else fine in dust jacket with a faded spine. $20.00
Clutch of Constables, Boston, Little, Brown, 1969. First U.S. edition. Fine in dust jacket. $20.00
Another copy. Ex-library in dust jacket. $10.00
When in Rome, London, Collins Crime Club, 1971. First edition. Fine in dust jacket. $50.00
Another copy. Fine in slightly soiled dust jacket. $40.00
When in Rome, Boston, Little, Brown, 1972. Book club edition. Fine in dust jacket. $10.00
Tied Up in Tinsel, Boston, Little, Brown, 1972. First U.S. edition. Fine in dust jacket with minute rubbing at spine ends. $20.00
Another copy. Name on front endpaper, else about fine in torn dust jacket. $15.00
Another copy. Book club edition. Fine in dust jacket. $10.00
Black as He’s Painted, London, Collins, 1974. First edition. Small spot on fore-edge, else very fine in dust jacket. $45.00
Black as He’s Painted, Boston, Little, Brown, 1974. First U.S. edition. Very good in dust jacket. $15.00
Last Ditch, Boston, Little, Brown, 1977. First U.S. edition. Fine in dust jacket. $20.00
Grave Mistake, London, Collins Crime Club, 1978. First edition. Name on front endpaper, else fine in dust jacket, which is unpriced, indicating the book was for export. $25.00
Grave Mistake, Boston, Little, Brown, 1978. First U.S. edition. Fine in dust jacket. $20.00
Another copy. One corner bumped, else fine in dust jacket. $15.00
Photo Finish, Boston, Little, Brown, 1980. First U.S. edition. Very fine in dust jacket. $20.00
Another copy. Second printing. Very fine in price-clipped dust jacket. $12.50
Light Thickens, Boston, Little, Brown, 1982. First U.S. edition. Fine in dust jacket. $20.00
Another copy. About fine in price-clipped dust jacket. $15.00
The Collected Short Fiction of Ngaio Marsh, N.Y., IPL, 1989. First edition. Fine in dust jacket. $20.00
Death on the Air and Other Stories, London, HarperCollins, 1995. First U.K. edition of The Collected Short Fiction of Ngaio Marsh. Very fine in dust jacket. $45.00
Another Three-Act Special, Boston, Little, Brown. Book Club edition. Omnibus volume containing False Scent, Scales of Justice and Singing in the Shrouds. Fine in dust jacket. $10.00
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