"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
— Mark Twain
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. [Historical Mystery] SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.[6] 360 [2]. SIGNED by the author in black ink to the title page. Publisher's olive cloth decorated in black and titled in white to spine and upper. With the original printed paper band to rear board..... More
![Bones [in] Tales From Many Sources. Sir Arthur Conan DOYLE, authors](/pictures/thumb/36509.jpg?v=1493310850)
Bones [in] Tales From Many Sources.
New York, Dodd Mead and Co., 1885. First edition. Four volumes. Octavo. Publisher's dark blue cloth, titled and decorated in gilt to spines and uppers. All volumes clean and sharp with light wear to spine ends, pale spot to lower edge front board volume III. Volume I has some minor..... More
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 Case for Spirit Photography.
London: Hutchinson and Co., no date [December 1922]. [Occult] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.110. Complete with 16 photographic plates showing 31 photographic images. As Green and Gibson note, the illustrations list call for an additional plate, but no copy with this plate has ever been noted; it seems..... More
Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1895. [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Reigate Puzzle (Squires)].
New York, NY: Harper and Brothers, June 17, 1893. FIRST AMERICAN APPEARANCE of this adventure, illustrated by W.H. Hyde, which was later collected in 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes'. Single newspaper issue in pictorial wraps (41 x 29cm). Disbound or extracted from a hardcover with associated wear to the spine..... More
Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1917. [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Greek Interpreter].
New York, NY: Harper and Brothers, September 16, 1893. FIRST AMERICAN APPEARANCE of this adventure, illustrated by W.H. Hyde, which was later collected in 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes'. Single newspaper issue in pictorial wraps (40 x 28cm). Disbound or extracted from a hardcover with associated sewing holes to spine..... More
![Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1917. [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Yellow Face]....](/pictures/thumb/50174DoyleHarper'sWeekly.jpg?v=1547505472)
Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1917. [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Yellow Face].
New York, NY: Harper and Brothers, February 11, 1893. FIRST AMERICAN APPEARANCE of this adventure, illustrated by W.H. Hyde, which was later collected in 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes'. Single newspaper issue in pictorial wraps (41 x 29cm). Disbound or extracted from a hardcover with associated wear to the spine..... More
![The Fall of Lord Barrymore. [An extract from The Strand Magazine]. Arthur Conan DOYLE, Sir, H. M....](/pictures/thumb/57234.jpg?v=1609174443)
The Fall of Lord Barrymore. [An extract from The Strand Magazine].
London: George Newnes, December 1912. [Magazine Extract] FIRST APPEARANCE. Octavo pamphlet (23 x 16cm), pp.603-611 [1]. With dichromatic illustrations by Brock. Leaves removed from a copy of The Strand Magazine and bound recently in brown paper, with a plain printed title label to upper, stapled twice. Light creasing and marking..... More
The Valley of Fear.
Toronto: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914 [1915]. [Crime Fiction] FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, Canadian Issue. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.320. With seven dichromatic half-tone plates after drawings by Keller, including a frontispiece. Publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper board. A little shaken. Light rubbing to boards with a...... More
The Valley of Fear. A Sherlock Holmes Novel.
New York, NY: George H. Doran Company, 1914. [Detective fiction] TRUE FIRST EDITION, prior to UK first printing, which was not illustrated. Post octavo (21 x 15cm), pp.320. With seven full-page illustrations by Arthur I. Keller, including the frontispiece. Publisher's red cloth blocked in gilt. Contents clean, cloth lightly handled..... More
The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
London: George Newnes, Ltd., 1905. [Detective mysteries] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.[8]; 403; [1]; [4] publisher's advertisements. Publisher's blue cloth, simply titled in gilt to spine and upper. Illustrated with a frontispiece and fifteen further plates by Paget. Half-title foxed, some light occasional spotting within else internally clean..... More
The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1908. [Sherlock Holmes Short Stories] NEW EDITION, VARIANT BINDING. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.[8]; 403; [1]. Illustrated with a frontispiece and fifteen further plates by Paget. Publisher's blue cloth, simply titled in gilt to spine and upper. Usually seen in the publisher's red cloth, this..... More
The Valley of Fear.
London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1915. [Sherlock Holmes] FIRST UK EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[8] 306 [6]. With a black and white frontispiece illustrated by Wiles. Publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper. Quite heavy spotting throughout, with toned edges and a strong tobacco scent. An..... More
The Last Galley. Impressions and Tales.
London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1911. [Short stories] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.viii; 298 [14]. With a chromolithographic frontispiece by Wyeth and one further lithographic illustration by Rountree. Publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper board. Contents clean, edges slightly toned, moderate handling and wear..... More
A Case of Identity and Other Stories. A Scandal in Bohemia, The Man from Archangel, The Captain of the "Pole-Star," and John Barrington Cowles.
New York, NY: Optimus Printing Company, no date [circa 1905]. [Sherlock Holmes] PIRATE EDITION. Duodecimo (17 x 11cm), pp.30 [2]; 30 [2]; 30 [2]; 30 [2]; 30 [2]. Publisher's light blue cloth with blue titles and decoration to spine and upper. Extremely heavily browned and brittle throughout. Advertisement leaf at..... 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
Danger! And Other Stories.
London: John Murray, 1918 [1931]. [Strange tales] FIRST EDITION, secondary binding. Octavo (18 x 12cm), pp.x; 246. Publisher's brown cloth with black titles to spine and upper board, pale blue-green dust-jacket priced at 6s. Neat ownership and date stamps to flyleaf. A lovely fine copy in fresh jacket, with reduced..... More
The Firm of Girdlestone. A Romance of the Unromantic.
Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1909. [Classic Literature] COPYRIGHT EDITION. Two volumes. Sectodecimo (16 x 12cm), pp.272; pp.270 [2]. Dated 1893 to title page; latest date being October 1909 to rear cover of volume I. Publisher's printed paper wraps. Blue ink stamp of a Florentine book shop to front cover of each..... More
The Great Boer War.
London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1900. [Military History] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm) pp.[2] x; 552 [12]. With five folding maps. Publisher's navy cloth with gilt titles to spine. All edges untrimmed; dark brown endpapers. Black ink gift inscription to half-title. Spotting to fly-leaves, and a 3cm tear to..... More
The Great Shadow. A Novel.
New York, NY: Harper and Brothers, 1893. FIRST US EDITION. Crown Octavo. pp.[iv]; 218 [2], advertisements, in the second state. In publisher's oatmeal-coloured cloth, blocked in red to spine and upper board. A very good used copy with a few marks and bumps plus some age-related toning. 'The Great Shadow'..... More
The Lost World. Being an Account of the Recent Amazing Adventures of Prefessor George E. Challenger, Lord John Roxton, Professor Summerlee, and Mr. E. D. Malone of the "Daily Gazette."
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1912. First Edition, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on label. Octavo. pp. vii, 319. With 5 monochrome plates featuring illustrations of dinosaurs and landscapes. Also featuring the clipped signature of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle affixed to the front pastedown. In maroon morocco leather binding of W. Perkins..... More
The Lost World. Being an account of the recent amazing adventures of Professor George E. Challenger, Lord John Roxton, Professor Summerlee, and Mr. E. D. Malone of the "Daily Gazette".
London: Hodder and Stoughton, no date [1914]. [Fantasy] LARGE PAPER EDITION. Tall Octavo (23 x 17cm), pp.319. With tissue-guarded mounted illustrations and colour frontispiece unique to this edition. Elegantly bound in half dark blue morocco with raised bands, gilt titles and ornament to the spine, cloth sides, top edge gilt..... More
![Memories and Adventures. [With a Sherlock Holmes Pastiche]. Arthur Conan DOYLE, Sir](/pictures/thumb/54825.jpg?v=1584533261)
Memories and Adventures. [With a Sherlock Holmes Pastiche].
London: John Murray, 1930. [Autobiography] Second Edition, being the FIRST MURRAY PRINTING in the PRIMARY BINDING, revised and enlarged. Octavo (18 x 12cm), pp.460; [4] advertisements. Publisher's navy blue gilt-titled cloth covers ruled in blind, pale blue-green dust-jacket priced at 7/6. Colour-printed advertising brochure for 'The Edge of The Unknown'..... More
Micah Clarke. His Statement.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1889. FIRST EDITION INSCRIBED PRESENTATION COPY. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.vi; 421; [1]; [16 of advertisements]. Publisher's blue cloth blocked in gilt to spine and upper, patterned endpapers. With a card inscribed and signed by Conan Doyle affixed to the pastedown: "R. Hemingsley. | from..... More