Durable and enormously popular British mystery writer (1890–1976) , one of the best-selling authors of all time, whose total sales is estimated at some four billion books. TLS signed “Agatha Christie Mallowan” (adding her surname a second time due to the cramped first attempt), two pages, 5.5 x 7, personal letterhead, September 18, 1967. Christie writes to Mrs. Beniamin [sic] Franklin in Topeka. In part: “I enclose the autograph you have asked for. I am much flattered that I am the only mystery writer you will read! I amused to hear that you bought a copy of ‘They Came to Baghdad’ in Baghdad, as I rather imagined it was the only place they did not stock it, because of references to beggars and someone spitting in the street! I am most interested to learn that you have a collection of Stevengraphs [a type of woven-silk picture introduced in the 1870s and popular throughout the remainder of the Victorian era]. I don’t collect the book-markers, but am particularly interested in the sports and historical ones…. I am keeping a sharp lookout for ‘Leda’ which is very hard to find…. If you ever come across any of these (which I expect you already have in your own collection) do let me know…. I was in the United States last Autumn when my husband was giving a lecture tour, but we never seemed to have time anywhere to go hunting for Stevengraphs, though I did find two in a shop in New Orleans, but they were racing ones which I already had. Collecting things is a great bond, isn’t it?…” Light intersecting folds (touching signature) and a few mild wrinkles, otherwise fine condition. R&R COA.
