"A book should serve as the axe for the frozen sea within us."
— Franz Kafka
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 about The Darkwater Hall Mystery
Arthur and George.
London: Jonathan Cape, 2005. SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.[6]; 360; [2]. Signature of Julian Barnes to the title page. In publisher's olive cloth decorated in black and titled in white to spine and upper. With the original printed paper band to rear board, issued in place of... More about Arthur and George
[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 about Manuscript letter describing the miraculous survival of a storm at sea during the South African...
The Story of British Prisoners.
London: The Central Committee for National Patriotic Organisations, no date [May 1915]. [Propaganda] RARE ORIGINAL PAMPHLET. Crown Octavo (21 x 14cm). pp.31; [1] blank. Publisher's brown paper wrappers, titles in black, stapled once, with printed price of one penny to upper. Internally fine, some splitting to spine, a little creasing/folding... More about The Story of British Prisoners
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 about Tales From Many Sources
![Memories and Adventures [With a Sherlock Holmes Pastiche]. Arthur Conan DOYLE, Sir](/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 about Memories and Adventures [With a Sherlock Holmes Pastiche
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 about Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No.1922, [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Naval Treaty pt. 2
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 about The Case for Spirit Photography
![The Secret of Goresthorpe Grange [in] Strange Secrets, Told by Percy Fitzgerald, Florence...](/pictures/thumb/50449.jpg?v=1535036364)
The Secret of Goresthorpe Grange [in] Strange Secrets, Told by Percy Fitzgerald, Florence Marryat, Dutton Cook, James Grant, etc. Eight Illustrations by Sir John Gilbert, William Small, W. J. Hennessy, etc.
London: Chatto and Windus, 1889. [Short Stories] FIRST ENGLISH EDITION, Ex Libris Richard Lancelyn Green. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[8]; 336; [32]. Advertisements dated April 1889, but published June 1889. With eight wood engraved illustrations by various artists, including a frontispiece. Publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spine and... More about The Secret of Goresthorpe Grange [in] Strange Secrets, Told by Percy Fitzgerald, Florence...
![Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1895, [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Gloria Scott]....](/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 about Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1895, [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Gloria Scott
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 about Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1895. [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Reigate Puzzle...
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 about Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1917. [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Greek Interpreter
![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 about Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1917. [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Yellow Face
Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1917. [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Musgrave Ritual].
New York, NY: Harper and Brothers, May 13, 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 about Harper's Weekly, Vol. XXXVII, No. 1917. [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Musgrave Ritual
![The Sign of the Four [together with] An Idyll of London. Arthur Conan DOYLE, Beatrice Harraden,...](/pictures/thumb/54716.jpg?v=1567697632)
The Sign of the Four [together with] An Idyll of London.
Chicago, IL: Donohue, Henneberry and Co., no date [circa 1900s]. [Detective fiction] PIRATE EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.230; 156-194. Publisher's blue cloth blocked in black to spine and upper, with titles in blind on a gilt square to spine. With the Conan Doyle story A Scandel in Bohemia and... More about The Sign of the Four [together with] An Idyll of London
![Round the Fire Stories [Sherlock Holmes]. Arthur Conan DOYLE, Sir, Andre CASTAIGNE](/pictures/thumb/53723.jpg?v=1556199654)
Round the Fire Stories [Sherlock Holmes].
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. Internally clean with a couple of small spots to edge of text block, a.... More about Round the Fire Stories [Sherlock Holmes
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 about The Valley of Fear
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 about The Hound of The Baskervilles. Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes
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 about The Return of Sherlock Holmes
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 about The Return of Sherlock Holmes
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 about The British Campaigns in Europe 1914-1918
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 about A Collection of Works by Arthur Conan Doyle in 'West End' style bindings
The Coming of the Fairies.
New York, NY: George H. Doran, 1922. [Spiritualism] FIRST U.S. EDITION. 1500 copies published. Octavo (21 x 15cm), pp.196. Illustrated with photographic plates. Publisher's mid-brown cloth, lettered in black, with photographic illustration laid down to upper, top edge ochre, others untrimmed. Slight toning, ink note 'hobby room' to flyleaf, same... More about The Coming of the Fairies
The Complete Sherlock Holmes Long Stories (A Study In Scarlet, Sign of Four, Hound of the Baskervilles and Valley of Fear).
London: John Murray, 1929. [Detective Fiction] FIRST EDITION of this omnibus volume; the first collected edition of the original four Holmes novels, with a brand new preface from Conan Doyle. Octavo (18 x 12cm), pp.640; [6], advertisements. Red cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper, red top edge, pictorial... More about The Complete Sherlock Holmes Long Stories (A Study In Scarlet, Sign of Four, Hound of the...
![Contributes [to HARPER'S WEEKLY, Vol XXXVII, Nos.1921-2]; 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes- The...](/pictures/thumb/46746.JPG?v=1493311000)
Contributes [to HARPER'S WEEKLY, Vol XXXVII, Nos.1921-2]; 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes- The Naval Treaty'. ORIGINAL ISSUES IN WRAPPERS (parts 1 and 2, complete).
New York, NY: Harper and Brothers, October 14-21, 1893. FIRST APPEARANCE of this adventure, illustrated by W.H. Hyde, which was later collected in 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes'. Single newspaper issues in pictorial wraps. Internally clean, with the occasional edge-tear. Covers are a little toned, discreet gummed postal label to... More about Contributes [to HARPER'S WEEKLY, Vol XXXVII, Nos.1921-2]; 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes- The...