Description

OF EXCEEDING RARITY: FIRST EDITIONS OF THE ADVENTURES AND MEMOIRS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, INSCRIBED IN EACH VOLUME BY CONAN DOYLE—THE CHARLES PLUMPTRE JOHNSON-LORD DONEGALL COPIES, FOUNDER OF THE SHERLOCK HOLMES SOCIETY

CONAN DOYLE, Sir Arthur. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. WITH: The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. London: George Newnes, 1892, 1894. Two volumes. Octavo, mid-20th century three-quarter brown morocco gilt, raised band, marbled endpapers; all edges gilt (Adventures), top edge gilt (Memoirs). Housed in custom slipcase.

First editions in book form of these classic stories starring literature’s most famous consulting detective, illustrated by Sidney Paget, handsomely bound, each volume inscribed by the author on the title page, “Yours sincerely, Arthur Conan Doyle.” The copies formerly belonging to noted Holmes collector Charles Plumtre Johnson and Edward Chichester, sixth Marquis of Donegall and founder of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London (for whom these books were specially bound), with their bookplates.

Although Sherlock Holmes first appeared in the novel A Study in Scarlet (1887), his adventures in the Strand Magazine brought both him and his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, lasting fame. “The initial 12 tales were collected between covers as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, published in England and America in 1892; and 11 of the second 12? as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, published in 1894. If any reader be prepared to name two other books that have given more innocent but solid pleasure, let him speak now—or hold his peace!” (Haycraft, 50). These volumes contain such famous and memorable tales as “A Scandal in Bohemia” and “The Adventure of the Speckled Band.” Of special note is the last case in the Memoirs, “The Final Problem,” in which Holmes apparently meets his death in a struggle with “the Napoleon of crime,” Professor Moriarty. “At one point, tiring of the detective, Doyle attempted to exterminate him? but the clamor of his admirers forced him to resurrect Holmes for several further volumes, and his popularity has waned little since” (Benet, 273). Original cloth bound in at rear of each volume; Adventures binding is first issue, with blank street sign on front cover illustration. Green & Gibson A10a, A14a. DeWaal 520, 596. Bookplate of distinguished collector Charles Plumptre Johnson, Justice of the Peace and expert on the works of Dickens, Thackeray and W.S. Gilbert. Johnson was one of the oldest members of the esteemed Bibliographical Society. Specially bound for Edward Chichester, 6th Marquis of Donegall and founder of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London. Lord Donegall’s bookplates also present. This, in addition to The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Return of Sherlock Holmes, were among the high spots of Donegall’s famed collection, and were all bound specifically for him. Doyle was known for brief inscriptions even to his close associates.

Fine condition. With exceptional provenance, exceedingly rare and desirable inscribed by Conan Doyle.