# Is "Clutch of Constables" by Ngaio Marsh a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Clutch of Constables by Ngaio Marsh (Collins, 1968) is identified by: UK Collins Crime Club, London 1968, is the true first. True first is the UK Collins edition (1968), preceding the US Little, Brown edition (1969).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- UK Collins Crime Club, London 1968, is the true first
- The US Little, Brown edition followed in 1969
- Features Alleyn and Troy
- The 25th Roderick Alleyn novel
- Publisher imprint reads Collins
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ngaio Marsh |
| Publisher | Collins |
| Year | 1968 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | UK Collins Crime Club, London 1968, is the true first |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
UK Collins Crime Club, London 1968, is the true first. The US Little, Brown edition followed in 1969. Features Alleyn and Troy. The 25th Roderick Alleyn novel.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the UK Collins edition (1968), preceding the US Little, Brown edition (1969).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and reprints follow the respective first editions.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Clutch of Constables* by Ngaio Marsh a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/clutch-of-constables
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.