CHRISTIE, Agatha. The Labours of Hercules [ [in] The Strand Magazine, November 1939 - September 1940
London: The Strand Magazine, 1939-1940
8vos., vols; original magazine wraps printed in full colour with advertisments to lower (‘How does she keep so Slim and Healthy? - Bile Beans’, etc..); each Christie entry illustrated by Ernest Ratcliff in both black and white and full colour, with text and images generally printed in two colours only; spines a little rubbed and split, in places staples rusted and some loss to spine ends; covers lightly rubbed and creased, light internal toning; issued 590 and 593 with a little heavier foxing to covers; corners of issue 593 chipped; some light stains to covers of 594; occasional pen and pencil markings to covers; the Christmas issue perhaps the most worn but for the most part very clean, square copies, remarkable survivals all, housed in three custom-made cardboard boxes, the contents written in pencil to the upper right hand corner of lid.
A complete collection of Christie’s ‘The Labours of Hercules’, which first appeared in print here between November 1939 and September 1940. Christie’s eleven-part work was based on the trials of the Greek hero, with her infamous protagonist Hercule Poirot featuring in each of the episodes. The first edition in book form did not appear until 1947, when the twelfth and final trial, ‘The Capture of Cerberus’ was added to complete the set, having previously been rejected by The Strand for unknown reasons.
In order of appearance, the stories are:
The Nemean Lion. Vol. XCVIII, No. 587, November 1939, p. 3-14.
The Lernean Hydra. Vol. XCVIII, No. 588, December 1939, p. 165-176.
The Arcadian Deer. Vol XCVIII, No. 589, January 1940, p. 248-257.
The Erymanthian Boar. Vol XCVIII, No. 590, February 1940, p. 326-337.
The Augean Stables. Vol XCVIII, No. 591, March 1940, p. 459-467.
Birds of Ill Omen. Vol XCVIII, No. 592, April 1940, p. 574-583.
The Cretan Bull. Vol XCIX, No. 593, May 1940, p.67-76.
The Horses of Diomedes. Vol XCIX, No. 594, June 1940, p.140-149.
The Girdle of Hippolyte. Vol XCIX, No. 595, July 1940, p. 245-252.
The Flock of Geryon. Vol XCIX, No. 596, August 1940, p. 308-315. and
The Apples of Hesperides. Vol XCIX, No. 597, September 1940, p. 374-380.
As well as Christie’s contributions, numerous other authors feature in print, including P. G. Wodehouse (contributing ‘Sonny Boy’ to issue 588, ‘Dudley is Back to Normal’ to issue 595, and ‘Tee for Two’ to issue 597), as well as Heath Robinson (contributing a drawing to issue 588) and Graham Greene (contributing ‘The News in English’ to issue 594). A rather humorous ‘Cartoon by Camera’ in issue 591 shows the Greek marble ‘Laocoon’ superimposed with the face of Hitler, Goering, and von Ribbentrop.
Scarce. As a wartime publication, and as ephemeral items, this is a very unusual example of a complete set of these detective stories, seldom found in commerce thus.
London: The Strand Magazine, 1939-1940
8vos., vols; original magazine wraps printed in full colour with advertisments to lower (‘How does she keep so Slim and Healthy? - Bile Beans’, etc..); each Christie entry illustrated by Ernest Ratcliff in both black and white and full colour, with text and images generally printed in two colours only; spines a little rubbed and split, in places staples rusted and some loss to spine ends; covers lightly rubbed and creased, light internal toning; issued 590 and 593 with a little heavier foxing to covers; corners of issue 593 chipped; some light stains to covers of 594; occasional pen and pencil markings to covers; the Christmas issue perhaps the most worn but for the most part very clean, square copies, remarkable survivals all, housed in three custom-made cardboard boxes, the contents written in pencil to the upper right hand corner of lid.
A complete collection of Christie’s ‘The Labours of Hercules’, which first appeared in print here between November 1939 and September 1940. Christie’s eleven-part work was based on the trials of the Greek hero, with her infamous protagonist Hercule Poirot featuring in each of the episodes. The first edition in book form did not appear until 1947, when the twelfth and final trial, ‘The Capture of Cerberus’ was added to complete the set, having previously been rejected by The Strand for unknown reasons.
In order of appearance, the stories are:
The Nemean Lion. Vol. XCVIII, No. 587, November 1939, p. 3-14.
The Lernean Hydra. Vol. XCVIII, No. 588, December 1939, p. 165-176.
The Arcadian Deer. Vol XCVIII, No. 589, January 1940, p. 248-257.
The Erymanthian Boar. Vol XCVIII, No. 590, February 1940, p. 326-337.
The Augean Stables. Vol XCVIII, No. 591, March 1940, p. 459-467.
Birds of Ill Omen. Vol XCVIII, No. 592, April 1940, p. 574-583.
The Cretan Bull. Vol XCIX, No. 593, May 1940, p.67-76.
The Horses of Diomedes. Vol XCIX, No. 594, June 1940, p.140-149.
The Girdle of Hippolyte. Vol XCIX, No. 595, July 1940, p. 245-252.
The Flock of Geryon. Vol XCIX, No. 596, August 1940, p. 308-315. and
The Apples of Hesperides. Vol XCIX, No. 597, September 1940, p. 374-380.
As well as Christie’s contributions, numerous other authors feature in print, including P. G. Wodehouse (contributing ‘Sonny Boy’ to issue 588, ‘Dudley is Back to Normal’ to issue 595, and ‘Tee for Two’ to issue 597), as well as Heath Robinson (contributing a drawing to issue 588) and Graham Greene (contributing ‘The News in English’ to issue 594). A rather humorous ‘Cartoon by Camera’ in issue 591 shows the Greek marble ‘Laocoon’ superimposed with the face of Hitler, Goering, and von Ribbentrop.
Scarce. As a wartime publication, and as ephemeral items, this is a very unusual example of a complete set of these detective stories, seldom found in commerce thus.