The Best of Sherlock Holmes

 

Sherlock Holmes in 221 Objects:
Manuscripts, Artwork & More from Glen S. Miranker

By Randall Stock, December 28, 2022 (revised)

An historic exhibition of Sherlock Holmes rarities will open at the University of Minnesota in February 2023. It features manuscripts, original artwork, first editions, letters and much more.

 

Drawings by Paget and Steele plus a Hound of the Baskervilles manuscript leaf at the 2022 Grolier Club Exhibition of the Glen S. Miranker collection

 

Overview

This magnificent exhibition is something all Sherlockians and bibliophiles should see, whether it is in-person or through the excellent hardcover exhibition catalogue (available via Amazon).

 

For those in Minnesota from February 13–May 5, 2023, be sure to visit the free exhibition. You can get a sense of the material below, but the following items are just some of the highlights.

 

This exhibition originally appeared at the Grolier Club in New York City from January 12–April 16, 2022. It then went to the Lilly Library at Indiana University from August 1–December 16, 2022. In February 2023, it is moving to the Elmer L. Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota.

 

 

Manuscripts & Letters

The exhibition includes the original handwritten manuscripts of four consecutive Sherlock Holmes short stories from The Return of Sherlock Holmes, as well as three leaves from the manuscript of The Hound of the Baskervilles.

 

The Solitary Cyclist manuscript - top of page 1

The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist

Catalogue #128

First published in:

The Strand Magazine, January 1904.

Collier's Weekly, December 26, 1903.

 

Conan Doyle originally titled this story as "The Adventure of the Solitary Man."


 

The Dancing Men manuscript - top of page 1

The Adventure of the Dancing Men

Catalogue #127

First published in:

The Strand Magazine, December 1903.

Collier's Weekly, December 5, 1903.

 

While written as the fourth story of The Return, Conan Doyle published it third in order to have a stronger tale in the Strand's Christmas issue.


 

The Priory School manuscript - top of page 1

The Adventure of the Priory School

Catalogue #125

First published in:

The Strand Magazine, February 1904.

Collier's Weekly, January 30, 1904.

 

Conan Doyle got a key plot point for this tale from the "Curiosities" section of the May 1903 Strand Magazine.


 

Black Peter manuscript - top of page 1

The Adventure of Black Peter

Catalogue #129

First published in:

The Strand Magazine, March 1904.

Collier's Weekly, February 27, 1904.

 

Conan Doyle had many of his manuscripts bound in vellum in 1913, but he gave this manuscript to the publisher of Collier's Weekly before that in 1908, and thus is not bound.


 

Hound of the Baskervilles manuscript leaf H1

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Catalogue #12

First published in:

The Strand Magazine (London), August 1901.

The Strand Magazine (NY), September 1901.

 

Hound Leaf H1. amount of walking with it

The American publisher of The Hound used pages from the manuscript for a publicity campaign in 1902. Of the 37 Hound leaves known to still exist, fewer than 14 remain in private hands.

 

This leaf is from the first chapter of the story and is the second page of the overall manuscript, with a pencil "2" in the upper left corner. It includes the phrase "Interesting, though elementary."


 

Hound of the Baskervilles manuscript leaf H2

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Catalogue #13

First published in:

The Strand Magazine (London), August 1901.

The Strand Magazine (NY), September 1901.

 

Hound Leaf H2. To that extent

The bottom of this page includes a label from the 1902 publicity campaign. A few other extant pages come with the same promotional label.

 

This is the third page of the manuscript, with a pencil "3" in the upper left corner. Conan Doyle added the phrase "You know my methods. Apply them!" to this page while working on the story.


 

Hound of the Baskervilles manuscript leaf H10

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Catalogue #14

First published in:

The Strand Magazine (London), January 1902.

The Strand Magazine (NY), February 1902.

 

Hound Leaf H10. Very good, Barrymore. You can go

Watson describes the eerie setting of the story in this leaf: "I walked far upon the sodden moor, full of dark imaginings, the rain beating upon my face and the wind whistling about my ears. God help those who wander into the Great Mire now."

 

This page is from Chapter 10 of the story.

 


 

Letters and More

In addition to the above manuscripts, the exhibition includes The Work of Storytelling, a never-before-displayed handwritten speech from June 1896 in which Conan Doyle proclaims "if I had not killed him [Holmes] he would certainly have killed me."

 

Conan Doyle's Norwood Notebook for 1885-1896 has an entry for December 1893 of "Killed Holmes."

 

The exhibition also includes numerous letters from Conan Doyle to his literary agent A.P. Watt, a letter to P. F. Collier regarding stories for The Return of Sherlock Holmes, as well letters to friends and colleagues.


 

Original Holmes Artwork

This exhibition includes a wealth of original drawings used for the many incarnations of Sherlock Holmes in magazines, books, on stage, and on screen.

 

Sidney Paget and The Strand Magazine

Sherlock Holmes shot to fame with the short stories in The Strand Magazine. Sidney Paget illustrated all the Strand Holmes stories until his death in 1908, and Paget created the detective's iconic image. Only 30 of Paget's more than 350 Holmes drawings are known to still exist, and this exhibition includes five of them.

 

Original Sidney Paget Drawing: Silver Blaze #1

Silver Blaze (December 1892)

Catalogue #80

Holmes gave me a sketch of the events

Drawing by Sidney Paget.

 

Original Sidney Paget Drawing: The Stockbroker's Clerk #1

The Stockbroker's Clerk (March 1893)

Catalogue #81

"Nothing could be better," said Holmes

Drawing by Sidney Paget.

 

Original Sidney Paget Drawing: The Final Problem #5

The Final Problem (December 1893)

Catalogue #79

My decrepit Italian friend

Drawing by Sidney Paget.

 

Original Sidney Paget Drawing: The Hound of the Baskervilles (Chapter XIV) #4

The Hound of the Baskervilles (Chapter XIV) (April 1902)

Catalogue #11

"Phosphorus!" I said

Drawing by Sidney Paget.

 

Original Sidney Paget Drawing: The Priory School #1

The Priory School (February 1904)

Catalogue #126

I heard him chuckle as the light fell upon a patched Dunlop tyre

Drawing by Sidney Paget.

 


 

Frederic Dorr Steele and Collier's Weekly

Frederic Dorr Steele established the American image of Holmes with his dramatic illustrations for Collier's Weekly. Steele illustrated 29 Holmes stories, but a complete set of his original drawings still exists for only two of these tales. The only complete set held in a single collection appears below. Published in Collier's as "The Singular Experience of Mr. J. Scott Eccles," Conan Doyle renamed the tale to be "The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge" for book publication.

 

Original Frederic Dorr Steele Drawing: Wisteria Lodge #1 (front cover)

Wisteria Lodge (August 1908)

Catalogue #134

Sherlock Holmes Number (front cover).

Drawing by Frederic Dorr Steele.

 

Original Frederic Dorr Steele Drawing: Wisteria Lodge #2

Wisteria Lodge (August 1908)

Catalogue #135

"Sacrifices to propitiate his unclean gods."

Drawing by Frederic Dorr Steele.

 

Original Frederic Dorr Steele Drawing: Wisteria Lodge #7

Wisteria Lodge (August 1908)

Catalogue #136

[no caption].

Drawing by Frederic Dorr Steele.

 

Original Frederic Dorr Steele Drawing: Wisteria Lodge #3

Wisteria Lodge (August 1908)

Catalogue #137

Our client sat up with staring eyes.

Drawing by Frederic Dorr Steele.

 

Original Frederic Dorr Steele Drawing: Wisteria Lodge #6

Wisteria Lodge (August 1908)

Catalogue #138

"They had gagged me, and Murillo twisted my arm round."

Drawing by Frederic Dorr Steele.

 

Original Frederic Dorr Steele Drawing: Wisteria Lodge #5

Wisteria Lodge (August 1908)

Catalogue #139

The light from the window streamed across the shrubbery.

Drawing by Frederic Dorr Steele.

 

Original Frederic Dorr Steele Drawing: Wisteria Lodge #4

Wisteria Lodge (August 1908)

Catalogue #140

The queer thing in the kitchen.

Drawing by Frederic Dorr Steele.

 


 

Other Artwork

Besides drawing for Collier's, Steele also illustrated Holmes stories in other magazines and various publications. This exhibition includes original Steele drawings for programs of William Gillette's play Sherlock Holmes and the press book of Basil Rathbone's 1939 movie The Hound of the Baskervilles.

 

Several other original drawings from other artists appear in the exhibition, including one by H. M. Brock for the Newnes Sixpenny edition of The Hound.


 

First Editions

Dust jacket and cover of the British first edition of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)

The exhibition includes many rare first editions, often in superb condition. Shown here is the only known copy in dust jacket of the British first edition of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Despite being 130 years old, the book itself looks like new. It was once owned by a murderer – see the printed catalogue for details.

 

Also on display is a first edition, second issue of the Adventures in dust jacket.

 

Some highlights with A Study in Scarlet include:

  • Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887 (copy R27; the first appearance of Holmes)
  • British first edition, first state with “younger” in the preface
  • British first edition, second state with misprinted “youuger” in the preface

 

Some highlights with The Hound of the Baskervilles include:

  • British first edition, inscribed
  • American first edition, salesman’s dummy (state 0, only copy known to exist)
  • American first edition, true first (state 0.5, only copy known to exist)
  • American first edition (first state, in partial dust jacket)
  • American first edition (second state, in dust jacket)
  • American first edition (second state, inscribed)
  • American first edition (fourth impression, in dust jacket)

 

Many other rare first editions are in the exhibition, along with original advertising, posters, programs, ephemera, and pirated editions of the Holmes tales.


 

Exhibition Details & Links

Sherlock Holmes in 221 Objects:
From the Collection of Glen S. Miranker

An Exhibition at the Elmer L. Andersen Library

February 13–May 5, 2023

222 21st Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55455

 

Exhibition Website

 

Virtual Exhibition by The Grolier Club

Click on the photos of individual items to see more details and a larger image

 

A Conversation on Collecting with Glen Miranker (on YouTube)

 

Photos and Video from the Exhibition Opening in New York

 

Printed Catalogue

 

Selected News About the Exhibition

From January 12–April 16, 2022 at the Grolier Club of New York

 

CBS Sunday Morning 4/10/22 Video: "The Game is Afoot at NYC Sherlock Holmes Exhibit"

An excellent 4-minute overview in both video and as an illustrated article

 

Washington Post 1/26/22 "Sherlock Holmes through the eyes of an ultimate fan"

 

CrimeReads 1/21/22 "221 Pieces of Sherlock Holmes History on View in NYC"

 

New York Times 1/7/22 "A Sherlock Holmes Mystery at the Grolier Club"

 

Prior Locations

An Exhibition at the Grolier Club

January 12–April 16, 2022

47 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022

Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Free admission: Open to the Public

 

An Exhibition at the Lilly Library

August 1–December 16, 2022

1200 E. Seventh Street, Bloomington, IN 47405

 


 

The Collection & The Collector

Glen Miranker holding a copy of the catalogue for Sherlock Holmes in 221 Objects

Glen S. Miranker selected 221 artifacts from his collection that will intrigue and delight bibliophiles, Sherlockians, and general audiences. The objects include manuscripts, books, correspondence, ephemera and original artwork.

 

This exhibition features an unrivaled number of objects in Conan Doyle's hand, and includes more items and rarer items than the 1952 New York exhibition put on by Conan Doyle's sons.

 

Miranker began building his Holmes collection 45 years ago. He is a member of the Baker Street Irregulars literary society and a founder of the BSI Trust.

 

He took a double major of physics and computer science at Yale (BS, 1975), and went on to earn a master's (1977) and a PhD (1979) from MIT.

 

After founding several start-up companies, Glen was invited by Steve Jobs to join Next Computer in 1990 and Apple Computer in 1996. He served as Apple's Chief Technology Officer (Hardware), and retired in 2004.

 

More About Glen S. Miranker and His Collections

Sherlock Holmes in 221 Objects (hardcover catalogue)

 

Sherlock Holmes in 221 Objects (audio interview)

October 30, 2021 podcast at the I Hear of Sherlock website

 

You Know My Methods: A Collector's Approach to the Sherlockian Canon

2012 exhibition at the Book Club of California

 

Glen Miranker Personal History (audio interview)

May 3, 2008 BSI Oral History Project at the BSI Trust website

 

Deadly Harpoon, edited by Glen Miranker

A BSI Manuscript Series Book at the BSI website

 


 

Printed Catalogue

Cover of exhibition catalogue for Sherlock Holmes in 221 Objects by Cathy and Glen Miranker

Sherlock Holmes in 221 Objects:
From the Collection of Glen S. Miranker

 

by Cathy Miranker and Glen Miranker

With a Foreword by Leslie S. Klinger

 

168 pages with 238 color plates

9 x 12 hardcover

Published January 2022

 

Order it via Amazon US

 

Order it via the University of Chicago Press

 

A Review of Sherlock Holmes in 221 Objects

Reading this magnificent catalogue is like getting a guided tour of rare Sherlockiana from Glen Miranker himself.

 

The 9" x 12" hardcover allows for large detailed photos while still being comfortable to hold and read. With 238 color images, you can browse through it and simply enjoy the beautiful photos.

 

Yet many will want to delve deeper by reading the fascinating backstories for each item. The mix of bibliographical detail, historical context, and unusual associations makes for a fun and informative book.

 

The catalogue follows the design of the exhibition, and includes the following sections:

  • The Hound of the Baskervilles in the UK
  • The Hound of the Baskervilles in the US
  • A Study in Scarlet
  • The Sign of Four
  • Adventures & Memoirs
  • The Death of Holmes & Rebirth of Conan Doyle
  • William Gillette & the Sherlock Holmes Play
  • Conan Doyle's Return to Sherlock Holmes
  • Pirated Editions

Many entries incorporate multiple photos of an item, allowing you to see a book's cover and its title page, or the front and back of a letter. The photos are big enough and sharp enough to let you read handwritten manuscripts and letters.

 

This is without question the finest catalogue of rare Sherlockiana ever produced. Some will treasure its beauty, others its reference value, but everyone interested in Holmes should have a copy.

 

Order it via Amazon US

 

Order it via the University of Chicago Press

 


 

Acknowledgements and Page History

My thanks to Glen Miranker for his help with photos and information for this web page. Thanks also to Susan Flamm, and to the staff at the Grolier Club who have assisted with my bibliographic research on numerous occasions.

 

The first version of this page appeared on December 12, 2021. A January 23, 2022 revision added details about the opening at the Grolier Club. Links to videos and press reports were added on January 29. An update on June 24, 2022 included news about the move to the Lilly Library. News about the move to the University of Minnesota was added on December 28, 2022.

 


 

Related Pages

Census of Sherlock Holmes Manuscripts

 

Census of the Manuscript of The Hound of the Baskervilles

 

2012 Exhibition at the Book Club of California

 

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

 

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

 

 


 

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Copyright ©2022  Randall Stock. All Rights Reserved.