Books

Half title, front. & illus., 24pp cata. Floral e.ps. Orig. cream cloth lettered in red, red cloth spine lettered in gilt; sound old glue repairs to inner hinges. Small P&DC booklabel (David & Patricia Cory) & purple pencil inscription of S.P.S. Harvey on upper corner of leading pastedown. A nice copy. t.e.g. This edition not in Glover & Greene, see 135 for similar. First published serially in Beeton's Christmas Annual, 1887 under the title A Tangled Skein, and in book form under this title in 1888; this is the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes, the most famous detective in literature, and his trusted assistant Dr John Watson. It was also the first time a magnifying glass was used as an investigating tool in a novel. It is one of only four full-length Holmes novels - along with by The Sign of Four (1890), The Hound of the Baskerville (1901-02), and The Valley of Fear (1914-15) - though he also wrote more than 55 short stories featuring the famed consulting detective. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1859-1930, physician and writer, was instrumental in popularising the detective and mystery genres in the late nineteenth century, though he also wrote fantasy, science fiction, plays, romances, poetry, historic fiction, and non fiction. He was a keen sportsman, playing football, cricket and golfing for regional teams, and also enjoyed boxing, skiing, billiards, and shooting. From 1916, Doyle became a devout follower of spiritualism and dedicated much of his time and writings to spreading and supporting spiritualist ideas.

A Study in Scarlet is a detective mystery novel written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, featuring his popular character Sherlock Holmes. It is the first work of fiction to feature Holmes and Dr. Watson, who would become one of the most famous detective duos in literature. The novel was first published in Beeton's Christmas Annual in 1887 and marks the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes.