# Is "Tied Up in Tinsel" by Ngaio Marsh a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Tied Up in Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh (Collins, 1972) is identified by: UK Collins Crime Club, London, published for Christmas 1972, is the true first. Both editions carry 1972.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- UK Collins Crime Club, London, published for Christmas 1972, is the true first
- The US Little, Brown first American edition also appeared in 1972 but followed the Collins printing
- Features Alleyn and Troy
- The 27th Roderick Alleyn novel
- Publisher imprint reads Collins
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ngaio Marsh |
| Publisher | Collins |
| Year | 1972 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | UK Collins Crime Club, London, published for Christmas 1972, is the true first |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
UK Collins Crime Club, London, published for Christmas 1972, is the true first. The US Little, Brown first American edition also appeared in 1972 but followed the Collins printing. Features Alleyn and Troy. The 27th Roderick Alleyn novel.

## Is this the true first?
Both editions carry 1972. The UK Collins edition (Christmas 1972) is the true first, preceding the US Little, Brown edition of the same year.

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

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Tied Up in Tinsel* by Ngaio Marsh a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/tied-up-in-tinsel
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.