Description
AN AMAZING RARITY: INSCRIBED PRESENTATION COPY OF THE SECOND SHERLOCK HOLMES ADVENTURE, THE SIGN OF FOUR, 1890—”ALMOST AS FRESH AS ON THE DAY OF ISSUE”
CONAN DOYLE, Sir Arthur. The Sign of Four. London: Spencer Blackett, 1890. Octavo, original red cloth gilt. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.
Incredibly rare presentation first issue of only the second Sherlock Holmes novel—considered one of the greatest detective novels—inscribed and signed by the author on the title page: “Mrs. Kingsley Milbourne, with A. Conan Doyle’s kindest remembrances. Sept 8th 91.” When Anderson Galleries sold this copy in 1936, the catalogue noted that it was the first presentation copy of the title to appear at auction in the United States, and described it a “choice copy, the covers and the text being almost as fresh as on the day of issue”—the latter remains true today. The first edition remains very scarce inscribed.
Notable for introducing Dr. Watson’s wife as well as Sherlock Holmes’ penchant for disguises, The Sign of Four further developed the great detective’s world. A fascinating and complex mystery in its own right, it also helped set the stage for the short stories that would soon make Holmes one of world literature’s enduring icons. But the book almost never happened. After Holmes’ debut in A Study in Scarlet (1887), Conan Doyle “had determined never to think of Holmes again, and probably would not have done so but for an unforeseen piece of fortune. On a day in 1889, Doyle was summoned to meet a representative of the American magazine, Lippincott’s, whose editor had admired A Study in Scarlet sufficiently to make a substantial offer for another Holmes story… Encouraged by a substantial advance payment, Doyle worked with much greater care, and in due course The Sign of the Four—oh, magical words!—made its bow in Lippincott’s for February 1890, was published [in book form] in London later in the year and scored an immediate popular success on both sides of the water. Fame had knocked at last. Doyle’s poverty had made the world immeasurably richer” (Haycraft, 49). First appeared simultaneously in the English and American editions of Lippincott’s, February 1890. First issue, in the Spencer, Blackett binding; Griffith, Farran acquired the edition the next year and reissued it with their imprint on the spine foot. This copy with 32-page publisher’s catalogue at rear dated October 1890 (unopened), with misprint (“w shed” for “wished”) on page 56, and with incomplete numeral on contents page (“13” for “138”), though none of these points bibliographical priority or preference within this first issue. With frontispiece illustration by Charles Kerr. Green & Gibson A7a. DeWaal 279. A Haycraft “Cornerstone” of detective fiction (302). Steinbrunner & Penzler, 208. See Barzun & Taylor 1143.
Front inner hinge discretely reinforced. A splendid copy in fine condition, most rare and desirable inscribed by Conan Doyle.
