"Outside of a dog, man's best friend is a book. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
— Groucho Marx
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | First Editions
1859 - 1930
British writer, physician knighted for medical services during the South African War and creator of Sherlock Holmes, the best-known detective in literature and the embodiment of sharp reasoning. Doyle himself was not a good example of rational personality- he believed in fairies and was interested in occultism. When his son Kingsley died from wounds incurred in the Great War, Doyle dedicated himself to spiritualistic studies. An example of these is the rather bizarre and quite touchingly credulous The Coming of Fairies (1922), but he had already showed interest in occult fantasy prior to Holmes and his early novel, The Mystery of Cloomber (1888), concerns a retired general under assault by Indian magic. Doyle supported the existence of 'little people' and spent more than a million dollars on their cause (by 1920 Doyle was one of the most highly paid writers in the world). The so-called 'fairy photographs' caused an international sensation when The Strand published Doyle's favourable account of them in 1920. The photographs showed fairies dancing in the air, but a year later, The Star newspaper reported that the fairies were from a poster. Doyle became president of several important spiritualist organizations and in 1925 he opened the Psychic Bookshop in London. Among his friends was the legendary American magician and escape artist Harry Houdini (1874-1926). Doyle believed that Houdini possessed supernatural powers, which the magician himself denied. Another friend was D.D. Home, whom the author claimed could levitate. Doyle recorded his own psychic experiences in his final book The Edge of the Unknown (1930).See below our stock of Arthur Conan Doyle First Editions, fine bindings, sets, signed copies, and other collectible material.
Arthur Conan Doyle Collection at the Toronto Public Library
Arthur Conan Doyle
The Sherlock Holmes Society of London
The Darkwater Hall Mystery.
Edinburgh: The Tragara Press, 1978. Limited edition. Number 67 of 165 copies. 8vo. Illustrated by Elspeth Sojka. Bound in publisher's original marbled card wraps. Fine with trifling edgewear. Internally clean and bright, a very pretty copy of a scarce piece of Sherlockiana. More
Arthur and George.
London: Jonathan Cape, 2005. SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp.[6]; 360; [2]. SIGNED by the Author on the title page. In publisher's olive cloth decorated in black and titled in white to spine and upper. With the publisher's printed paper band to rear board, issued in place of a dust-wrapper. A.... More
!['My African Journey', 'Reminiscences of Sherlock Holmes' and 'The Chase of the Golden Plate' [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 34, 35 and 36. CHURCHILL, Sir Winston Spencer, DOYLE, Jacques, FUTRELLE, Arthur Conan.](/pictures/thumb/33857.jpg?v=1497368022)
'My African Journey', 'Reminiscences of Sherlock Holmes' and 'The Chase of the Golden Plate' [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 34, 35 and 36.
London: George Newnes, 1907-8. FIRST APPEARANCES, the complete original parts for the Churchill and Futrelle books, plus three Sherlock Holmes mysteries, collected later in book-form. In three volumes, quarto. Illustrated throughout. Bound in publisher's light blue pictorial cloth. A used but serviceable set, a little dusty and darkened, text block... More
![My African Journey [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes XXXV and XXXVI. Sir CHURCHILL, DOYLE Winston Spencer, , Arthur Conan.](/pictures/thumb/49976.jpg?v=1513346118)
My African Journey [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes XXXV and XXXVI.
London: George Newnes, Janurary to December 1908. [Literary Magazine]. FIRST APPEARANCES. In two volumes. Octavo (24 x 17cm), pp.iv; 720; pp.iv; 800. With many photogravure illustrations and wood engravings. Publisher's cyan cloth with gilt titles to spines, black to upper boards. Rear hinges split, bindings holding well. Streatham booksellers labels... More
![[Manuscript letter describing the miraculous survival of a storm at sea during the South African Spiritualist Tour of 1928]. Jean Conan DOYLE, née LECKIE, Sir Arthur Conan DOYLE, association.](/pictures/thumb/49536.jpg?v=1510224701)
[Manuscript letter describing the miraculous survival of a storm at sea during the South African Spiritualist Tour of 1928].
1st November 1928. ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT LETTER WRITTEN BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE'S SECOND WIFE. Written in black ink over both sides of two sheets of headed note paper from the R.M.S. Windsor Castle, Union-Castle Line. With the original envelope addressed to a Mrs. Hewitt of London, SW7. Stamp and postmarks... More
Tales From Many Sources.
New York, Dodd Mead and Co. 1885. First edition, 4 volumes. 8vo. All bound in publisher's original dark blue cloth. Titled and decorated in gilt to spines and front boards. All volumes clean and sharp with light wear to spine ends, pale spot to lower edge front board volume III... More
![Pamphlets and Leaflets for 1911 being the Publications for the Year of the Liberal Publication Department. [A collection of Speeches on the subjects of Free Trade and Protection; Home Rule; House of Lords; Land, Labour, and Social Questions; Liberal and Progressive Principles; The Liberal Record (National Health, Unemployment Insurance); Trade, Taxation and Finance; and Welsh Disestablishment]. Sir Arthur Conan DOYLE, LLOYD GEORGE Right Hons. ASQUITH, , GREY, LIBERAL PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT.](/pictures/thumb/33667.jpg?v=1493310836)
Pamphlets and Leaflets for 1911 being the Publications for the Year of the Liberal Publication Department. [A collection of Speeches on the subjects of Free Trade and Protection; Home Rule; House of Lords; Land, Labour, and Social Questions; Liberal and Progressive Principles; The Liberal Record (National Health, Unemployment Insurance); Trade, Taxation and Finance; and Welsh Disestablishment].
London: The Liberal Publication Department, 1912. Over 300 pages, including some folding plates, of leaflets and speeches by Lloyd George, Asquith and others, The National Insurance Bill with front and rear cover (32pps.). Also includes a contribution by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The whole in publisher's black morocco spine with... More
![Memories and Adventures [With a Sherlock Holmes Pastiche]. DOYLE, Sir Arthur Conan.](/pictures/thumb/42670.JPG?v=1493310913)
Memories and Adventures [With a Sherlock Holmes Pastiche]
Boston: Little Brown and Company 1924. FIRST US EDITION. Large 8vo. Pp.vii; 410; [2], blank. With frontisportrait. Publisher's blue gilt-titled cloth in original dust-wrapper. Book is fine, jacket worn with some loss along top edge and significant chips to spine. Rather scarce in the jacket. A fascinating autobiographical account of... More
The Valley of Fear. A Sherlock Holmes Story. With a frontispiece by Frank Wiles.
London: Smith, Elder, and Co., 1915. FIRST UK EDITION. 8vo; pp.306 plus 6 pages of ads. Publisher's red cloth with gilt tiles to spine and upper. Some minor spotting, flyleaves and edges age-toned, binding shows some whelfwear, backstrip sunned; a used copy but with no major defects. The fourth and... More
![Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No.1922, [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Naval Treaty pt. 2]. DOYLE, Sir Arthur Conan, W. H. HYDE, illustrator.](/pictures/thumb/48661.jpg?v=1498055242)
Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No.1922, [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Naval Treaty pt. 2].
New York, NY: Harper and Brothers, 21st October 1893. FIRST APPEARANCE. The second of two parts, folio. Illustrated by W. H. Hyde. A story later collected in 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes'. In publisher's illustrated paper covers, sewn. Hinges very weak; front nearly loose. Large tear to front cover mended... More
The Hound of The Baskervilles.
London: George Newnes, 1902. [Sherlock Holmes] FIRST EDITION, EX LIBRIS DENNIS WHEATLEY. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[6]; 359; [1]. Publisher's red cloth blocked in gilt and black to upper board and in gilt to spine to a design by Alfred Garth Jones. Illustrated with sixteen plates by Paget. Dennis Wheatley's... More
![Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1895, [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Gloria Scott]. DOYLE, Sir Arthur Conan, W. H. HYDE, illustrator.](/pictures/thumb/48660.jpg?v=1498055242)
Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1895, [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Gloria Scott].
New York, NY: Harper and Brothers, 15th April 1893. FIRST US APPEARANCE. One magazine issue, folio. Illustrated by W.H. Hyde. A story later collected in 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes'. In publisher's illustrated paper covers; spine sewn. Small contemporary orange ownership sticker to front cover. Hinges very weak, as expected;... More
![The Hound of The Baskervilles [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 22 and 23. Sir DOYLE, Sidney PAGET, illustrator, Arthur Conan.](/pictures/thumb/50945.jpg?v=1525270840)
The Hound of The Baskervilles [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 22 and 23.
London: George Newnes, July 1901 - July 1902. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCE of the famous Sherlock Holmes novel with illustrations by Sidney Paget, many of which are ONLY AVAILABLE IN THIS ISSUE. Additionally the Hound plates are larger than those used in the book-form edition. Also contains an interview with... More
Round the Fire Stories.
London: Smith, Elder, and Co., 1908. [Short stories] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[8]; 372; [4 of advertisements]. Publisher's red cloth, gilt titles to spine and upper board, gilt vignette to upper board. Frontispiece illustration. Some sporadic marks to the textblock, damp staining to the top inner corners of... More
The Hound of The Baskervilles. Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes.
London: George Newnes, 1902. FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.359. With 16 illustrated plates by Paget. Bound in publisher's decorative red cloth, showing silhouette of the hound against a skyline in black and gilt to front board, gilt titles to spine. In a leather-spined clamshell case. Internally clean and... More
The Hound of The Baskervilles. Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes.
London: George Newnes, 1902. FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp.359. With 16 illustrated plates by Paget. In publisher's decorative red cloth, showing silhouette of the hound against a skyline in black and gilt to front board, gilt titles to spine. In a black leather-spined clamshell box. Some spotting to edges and endpapers... More
The Hound of The Baskervilles. Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes.
London: George Newnes, 1902. FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.359. With sixteen illustrated plates by Paget. In publisher's decorative red cloth, showing silhouette of the hound against a skyline in black and gilt to front board, gilt titles to spine. In a black leather-spined clamshell box. Some spotting to... More
The Hound of the Baskervilles. Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes.
London: George Newnes Limited, 1902. [Detective novel]. FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.359. With sixteen illustrated plates by Paget. Elegantly hand-bound by Bayntun of Bath in full scarlet red calf, with full gilt back, twin labels, all edges gilt. Very clean within; a few minor marks to binding. A fine copy. More
The Hound of The Baskervilles. Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes.
London: George Newnes, 1902. [Sherlock Holmes] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.359. With sixteen illustrated plates by Paget. In publisher's decorative red cloth, showing silhouette of the hound against a skyline in black and gilt to front board, gilt titles to spine. Minor toning to edge of text block... More
The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
London and Bombay: Longman's Colonial Library, 1905. First Colonial Edition, later issue. Octavo, pp.[viii]; 403; [1], imprint; [8], advertisements. With a frontispiece illustration by Paget. Publisher's red cloth titled in black to the spine and front board, 'swan' patterned endpapers. In a fleece-lined red cloth slip-case. Some minor foxing, mark... More
The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
London: George Newnes Ltd., 1905. FIRST UK EDITION. Octavo, pp.[8]; 403; [5]. With 16 illustrated plates by Sidney Paget. Elegantly hand-bound in full blue oasis morocco leather, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with raised bands, gilt border to covers, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Internally clean, neat old repair to... More
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
New York; Harper 1892. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, First issue (with 'if had' for 'if he had' on page 65 line 4). Illustrated, octavo, pp.307 + 4 (ads). Publisher's light blue cloth blocked in gilt and black. Neat bookplate to pastedown, slight toning to spine panel, frayed at ends. A very... More
The British Campaigns in Europe 1914-1918.
London: Geoffrey Bles, [n.d. 1928]. FIRST EDITION. Demy Octavo. pp. 1024. In publisher's purple cloth, sunned to extremities, titled in gilt to spine. Very good. In a very good example of the scarce dustwrapper, spotted, chipped to spine ends with light edgewear and a closed tear to the upper margin... More
The Case for Spirit Photography.
New York; George H. Doran. 1923. First American Edition. 8vo. Publisher's brown cloth, titled in black to spine, very good indeed with a couple of thumbmarks and light bumping to spine ends, with photogrpahic spirit photograph label to front board. In a fragile example of the scarce dustwrapper somewhat worn... More
A Collection of Works by Arthur Conan Doyle in 'West End' style bindings.
London: John Murray, 1924-1931. A finely bound collection of Murray editions, all but one published during the author's lifetime. Ten volumes, octavo (19 x 13 x 35cm). In exquisite half tan calf with full gilt backs, twin title labels, buckram sides, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. Mostly clean within (some... More