Arthur Conan Doyle breathed life into his two fictional but entirely credible characters, and their popularity created an insatiable appetite for more adventures which brought both financial gain and frustration for the author. Even now, some 110 years after Holmes made his first appearance in A Study in Scarlet, the Detective's uncanny wisdom and attention to detail continue to inspire the public at large. The goal of many is the purchase of an original issue or two of the Strand Magazine, where Holmes made his first serialized appearance in July of 1891. From there, it may grow to include first editions of the novels, to original manuscripts and artwork available only at auction. What follows are a few items I found to be interesting additions to a collection of Sherlock Holmes memorabilia.
Prices vary depending on the condition of the publication.
The much desired signature of Arthur Conan Doyle taken from a letter he had written to an admirer of his work. Here, we see an early photograph of A. Conan Doyle, taken around 1898, just prior to his voluntary involvement as a member of the medical staff in the Boer War. It is around this time that the initial drafts of The Hound of the Baskervilles began to take shape. Many of the stars of the dramatic versions of Doyle's stories also developed a following as well. William Gillette and Eille Norwood were popular Thespians who portrayed the Sleuth on stage and in silent films.