Agatha Christie's 'insightful' letters sold at auction

A collection of items from English crime author Agatha Christie's housekeeper have been sold at auction for nearly £8,000.

Items from Phyllis Rice, the former housekeeper of Christie's holiday home Greenway House in Devon, went under the hammer at Wessex Auction Rooms in Chippenham, Wiltshire, on Friday.

Among the items were six letters addressed to Rice and notes with instructions on how to feed Christie's much-loved dogs.

Auctioneer Bridget Meadows said: "These lots form a wonderful insight into Agatha Christie's personal life at Greenway House."

"The collection has been tucked away by the family until recently, so it has been a real privilege to research and catalogue all of the items and learn a little more about one of the world's favourite authors," Meadows added.

The five-lot collection, which was sold for a total of £7,889, also included first editions of Five Little Pigs and Star Over Bethlehem, both signed by Christie.

The collection was expected to bring in about £1,000, much less than the eventual total.

Christie is the world's best-selling author of all time and is known for her 66 detective novels, including Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile.

Born in Torquay, Devon, in 1890, she died in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, aged 85 in 1976.

The items sold included six letters to Rice detailing everything from compliments on alterations made to Christie's clothing by Rice and details of payments for said alterations.

There are also details of Rice's trial period at Greenway House.

The letters also contain a group of housekeeper's notes from Greenway cottage, including various contact details for her literary agent, doctor, builder, solicitor and others.

"We have, unsurprisingly had interest from enthusiasts around the world," said Meadows.

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