# Is "Final Curtain" by Ngaio Marsh a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Final Curtain by Ngaio Marsh (Collins, 1947) is identified by: An Inspector Alleyn mystery featuring Alleyn and his wife Agatha Troy. UK Collins and US Little, Brown are both 1947 and effectively simultaneous; clear precedence between them is not established.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- An Inspector Alleyn mystery featuring Alleyn and his wife Agatha Troy
- The UK Collins Crime Club and US Little, Brown editions were both issued in 1947 as effectively simultaneous transatlantic first editions; the author's bibliography records both as London and Boston, 1947
- Publisher imprint reads Collins
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ngaio Marsh |
| Publisher | Collins |
| Year | 1947 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | An Inspector Alleyn mystery featuring Alleyn and his wife Agatha Troy |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
An Inspector Alleyn mystery featuring Alleyn and his wife Agatha Troy. The UK Collins Crime Club and US Little, Brown editions were both issued in 1947 as effectively simultaneous transatlantic first editions; the author's bibliography records both as London and Boston, 1947.

## Is this the true first?
UK Collins and US Little, Brown are both 1947 and effectively simultaneous; clear precedence between them is not established. Both are recognized first editions.

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

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Final Curtain* by Ngaio Marsh a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/final-curtain
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.