Rare autograph letter signed by literary icon Agatha Christie, dated 4 July (1962), the same year she published the bestseller ''The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side''. On her personal ''Winterbrook House'' stationery, Christie writes in full to Jane Elliot, her housekeeper.

''Dear Mrs. Elliot / I believe Mrs. Guggs is away on holiday, but last time she spoke to me on the telephone she seemed to think that all was more or less fixed for Summer - I would like to hear from you what you feel would be a good arrangement and how much you would be prepared to do and what way would be best for you - / Can you all manage if we have you, Mrs. Budd & Mrs. Hoad - and Mrs. Guggs doing early teas and perhaps breakfast - I would really like you to arrange between yourselves what would suit you all? / I have an idea that if you had Friday evening off altogether, & perhaps 2 evenings a week definitely cold supper - & hot dinner on the other nights? / If on the nights you cook a hot meal Mrs. Hoad would come and wash up - or if she is willing to wash up most evenings, that would mean that you could get away earlier - If you know of someone, a friend, I'm quite willing to pay someone extra - / As far as I know - we shall probably come down about July 28th or thereabouts - Mrs. & Mrs. Hicks & Mathew will be there, & possibly friends of Mathew's. Mr. Mallowan will not be down at all - & I shall go to and from Wallingford - We go to Greenway for last 2 weeks in August - but I suspect Mr. & Mrs. Hicks will still be there - Beginning of September [?] so & I and Mr. Mallowan & the Mallowan boys will be there as usual. / Hope you are well & give my love to Nicola and Cherry...Agatha Mallowan''.

Composed in blue ballpoint, four-page letter on two sheets measures 5.5'' x 7''. Fold and light wear, overall in very good plus condition. Accompanied by original envelope in Christie's handwriting, postmarked 4 July 1962.