Arthur Conan Doyle, 1892-94

DOYLE, Arthur Conan (1859-1930). Adventures of Sherlock Holmes [and] Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1892-94.

First American editions. The present copy of Memoirs is the first issue, including the story "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box." This story was omitted from the second issue and would not appear in book form until 1917. Conan Doyle would comment that "there was a certain sex element in 'The Cardboard Box' story and for this reason I discarded it when I published in book form." Doyle did not wish to discard the famous opening, though, in which Holmes breaks into Watson's thoughts à la Poe's Dupin. This episode is original to "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box" but was transferred to that of the "Resident Patient," resulting in various later duplications. It is unknown why the story was included in the American edition—perhaps Doyle's editors felt the American public was better prepared for lurid subject matter. Green & Gibson A10b and A14b.

Two volumes, octavo. Adventures with frontispiece, 15 plates, and 4 pp. of ads at rear; Memoirs with frontispiece, 25 plates, and 6 pp. of ads at rear. Original blue pictorial cloth stamped in gilt (spines a little toned with slight lean; Adventures has been recased with new endpapers, with some soiling to front cover). Provenance: W. Warren (inscription to title of Memoirs).