CHRISTIE, Agatha (1890-1976). The Labours of Hercules. London: for The Crime Club by Collins, 1947.

First UK edition in an excellent unrestored dust-jacket. A rare presentation copy, inscribed by the author to her secretary, amanuensis and close friend Charlotte 'Carlo' Fisher: 'Carlo from Agatha | 1947.' These twelve Hercule Poirot short stories, which echo the twelve labours of Hercules, are 'generally regarded as the best of Agatha Christie’s short story collections' (C. Osborne, The Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie, 1999). They were first published in magazine form: five first appeared in The Strand in the UK while seven first appeared in The Week in the U.S. The first book edition was published in the U.S. around June 1947 and in September in the UK. Hubin p. 80.

Octavo. Original red cloth, spine lettered in black (spine sunned, top edge of boards slightly dust-stained, small stains along joints, white mark to upper cover); original pictorial dust-jacket supplied from another copy (very slightly frayed at edges, a few short tears along top edge with crease to head of lower panel, a little light spotting and rubbing). Provenance: Charlotte 'Carlo' Fisher (1895-1976, secretary, amanuensis and close friend of Agatha Christie; presentation inscription by the author on front free endpaper, and with Fisher’s posthumous book label).