The Sign of Four, inscribed - photo 1
The Sign of Four, inscribed - photo 2

The Sign of Four, inscribed

Sold
$ 201 600
Auction dateClassic
06.10.2022 12:00UTC -04:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
USA, New York
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The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 813705
Lot 120 | The Sign of Four, inscribed
The Sign of Four, inscribed

Arthur Conan Doyle, 1890

DOYLE, Arthur Conan (1859-1930). The Sign of Four. London: Spencer Blackett, 1890.



A rare presentation copy of the first edition in book form, first issue. A lovely copy. Inscribed and signed by the author on the title page: “Mrs Kingsley Melbourne with A Conan Doyle’s kindest remembrances. Sept 8th 91.” Considered one of the greatest of all detective novels, The Sign of Four is the first full-length novel to feature Sherlock Holmes as its main character. When Anderson Galleries sold this copy in 1936, the catalogue noted that it was the first presentation copy of the title to appear at auction in the United States, and a “choice copy, the covers and the text being almost as fresh as on the day of issue”—the latter remains true today. The first edition is still scarce inscribed, with neither ABPC nor RBH recording any copies. The first issue, with “Spencer Blackett’s Standard Library” stamped at the foot of the spine, is comprised of two variant states, without priority: the present contains the publisher’s catalogue dated October 1890, “13” for “138” on the contents page, and “w shed” for “wished” on page 56. Green & Gibson A7.



Octavo. Frontispiece by Charles Kerr, unopened 32 pp. publisher’s catalogue at rear dated October 1890 (front hinge starting). Original burgundy fine-ribbed cloth blocked in black and titled in gilt (spine only a trifle dulled with small ripple to cloth near the author’s name, rear cover with barely noticeable short tear to cloth at edge). Custom morocco-backed clamshell box. Provenance: Marsden J. Perry (his sale, Anderson Galleries, Inc., 11 & 12 March 1936, lot 143).

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