"IT IS MY BUSINESS TO KNOW WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T KNOW": FIRST EDITION OF THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

CONAN DOYLE, Sir Arthur. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. London: George Newnes (Gresham Press), 1892. Tall octavo, original black and gilt-stamped pale blue cloth, beveled board-edges, patterned endpapers, all edges gilt. $11,500.

First edition in book form of these classic mysteries starring literature's most famous detective, with 104 in-text illustrations by Sidney Paget.

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… If any reader be prepared to name [another book that has] given more innocent but solid pleasure, let him speak now— or hold his peace!" (Haycraft, 50). This volume contains such famous and memorable tales as "A Scandal in Bohemia" and "The Adventure of the Speckled Band." Much later, 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). First-issue binding, with blank street sign on front cover illustration. Tan patterned endpapers rather than gray. Without scarce dust jacket. Green & Gibson A10a. DeWaal 520.

Faint scattered foxing to interior, only light rubbing to extremities of bright cloth, gilt bright. An exceptional about-fine copy, unusual in this condition.