# Is "The Big Four" by Agatha Christie a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Big Four by Agatha Christie (William Collins & Sons, 1927) is identified by: First published in the UK by William Collins & Sons, 27 January 1927; US Dodd, Mead followed later the same year. UK William Collins & Sons precedes the US Dodd, Mead edition; both dated 1927.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First published in the UK by William Collins & Sons, 27 January 1927
- US Dodd, Mead followed later the same year
- A Poirot novel worked up from twelve linked short stories
- Not a Collins Crime Club book: that imprint did not launch until May 1930
- Publisher imprint reads William Collins & Sons
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Agatha Christie |
| Publisher | William Collins & Sons |
| Year | 1927 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First published in the UK by William Collins & Sons, 27 January 1927 |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First published in the UK by William Collins & Sons, 27 January 1927; US Dodd, Mead followed later the same year. A Poirot novel worked up from twelve linked short stories. Not a Collins Crime Club book: that imprint did not launch until May 1930.

## Is this the true first?
UK William Collins & Sons precedes the US Dodd, Mead edition; both dated 1927.

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

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Big Four* by Agatha Christie a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-big-four
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.