Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Joe Bell Postcard:
Forum Auctions 2019 Sale Information

By Randall Stock, July 24, 2019  (revised)

Forum Auctions sold a postcard by Conan Doyle discussing Dr. Joe Bell and the origins of Sherlock Holmes on July 11, 2019.

 

 

Conan Doyle Postcard Description

Lot 417: Postcard by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on the Origins of Sherlock Holmes

Autograph postcard from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to R. Pascoe. Signed "A Conan Doyle." Windlesham, Crowborough letterhead. Not dated, but circa 1920.

 

Text is written in dark ink on the verso only of a postcard that is approximately 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches. Except for the recipient's name of "R. Pascoe," no information is currently available about the recto of the postcard.

 

The full text of the postcard reads:

Dear Sir

It is a fact that Holmes has some traits of Dr Bell of Edinburgh. To say that he is entirely based upon him would be an exaggeration. My first book (I have written stories since 1878) was 'A Study in Scarlet, a Sherlock Holmes booklet published as Beetons Annual in 1888.

Yours [truly]

A Conan Doyle.

 

See below for some observations and related history, as well as a large photo of the full postcard.

 

The pre-sale estimate is £1,200 - £1,800 (US$1,530 - US$2,295).

 

Sale Results

The postcard sold on July 11, 2019 for a price realized of £18,200 or about US$23,205. The hammer price of £14,000 was more than ten times pre-sale low estimate.

 

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Observations and Related History

Rarity

While thousands of Conan Doyle letters, notes, and postcards still exist, only a small portion mention Sherlock Holmes and even fewer refer to Dr. Joe Bell, the man who inspired Conan Doyle to create Holmes. This postcard also mentions the first appearance of Holmes in Beeton's Christmas Annual and the title of this first Holmes story. This combination of elements is exceptionally rare.

 

"Windlesham, Crowborough" Letterhead

Conan Doyle's primary residence from 1907 until his death in 1930 was Windlesham [House] in Crowborough, Sussex.

 

"Dr Bell of Edinburgh"

Dr. Joseph Bell (1837–1911) was a surgeon at the Edinburgh Infirmary and renowned for his ability to diagnose a person's occupation and character in addition to their disease. Conan Doyle studied medicine from 1876 to 1881 at the University of Edinburgh and became Bell's outpatient clerk.

 

When Conan Doyle began work in 1886 on his first Holmes story, he recalled in his autobiography, "I thought of my old teacher Joe Bell, of his eagle face, of his curious ways, of his eerie trick of spotting details. If he were a detective he would surely reduce this fascinating but unorganized business to something nearer to an exact science."

 

Sherlock Holmes soared to fame with the publication of his short stories in the Strand Magazine. The first dozen were collected in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892), and Conan Doyle's dedication for that book reads "To My Old Teacher, Joseph Bell, M.D., &c. of 2, Melville Crescent, Edinburgh."

 

"Written stories since 1878"

Conan Doyle was notoriously bad with dates and numbers. His first published story, "The Mystery of Sasassa Valley," appeared in the September 6, 1879 issue of Chambers's Journal. Both Richard Lancelyn Green and John Dickson Carr report that Conan Doyle wrote this story in 1879. However, even though it was not published during his lifetime, he may have written "The Haunted Grange of Goresthorpe" before this.

 

"Beetons Annual in 1888"

Conan Doyle shortens the magazine's name and conflates the year with the book version. His novel A Study in Scarlet first appeared in Beeton's Christmas Annual for 1887. The same company then published the first English book edition in July 1888.

 

 

If you have details about the front of the postcard, or any other provenance information, please contact me. I keep sources and information private upon request.

 

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Postcard Photo

 

Back of postcard to R. Pascoe circa 1920

 

For more information, see the description section above and some observations with related history.

 

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Forum Auctions Catalogue & Sale Information

Forum Auctions provides an online catalogue listing for Lot 417: Postcard by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

 

Their printed catalogue PDF (20MB) has the same photo of the postcard.

 

Sale Information

Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper (Auction No. 45)

Thursday July 11, 2019 at 1:00PM BST

The Westbury Hotel, Mayfair, London

 

Forum Auctions

220 Queenstown Road

London SW8 4LP

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7871 2640

 

The buyer's premium is 30% on the first £150,000, plus additional premium on amounts in excess of £150,000.

 

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Acknowledgements and Page History

Postcard photo courtesy of Forum Auctions.

 

My thanks to Ruby Burbidge at Forum Auctions, and to Peter E. Blau for his assistance.

 

This page is based on information provided by Forum Auctions.

 

The first version of this report appeared July 24, 2019.

 

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Related Pages

Census of Sherlock Holmes Manuscripts

 

Other Sherlockian rarities like Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887 and Sidney Paget drawings.

 

Checklist of non-Sherlockian Conan Doyle Manuscripts

 

Lists of each year's best Sherlock Holmes books & DVDs, the most famous Sherlock Holmes quotes, and more Top 10 Lists.

 

 

 

Return to Manuscripts Home page and Introduction

 

 

 

Vers. 2.1cx-RN Original work
Copyright ©2019  Randall Stock. All Rights Reserved.