The Crowborough Edition of the Works of Arthur Conan Doyle, 24 volumes
Doubleday, Doran, 1930. Hardcover. This set includes the complete works of the iconic crime fiction author, including of course the four novels and over fifty short stories about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, as well as all his non-Sherlock works such as his plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's signature in the first volume of this set is interesting in that the set was published during the last year of his life, before he died of a heart attack at age 71 in 1930. Octavo. Signed by Arthur Conan Doyle in the first volume. Number 612 of 760 copies. Complete 24 volume set. Brown boards with tan cloth spines, gilt "A Conan Doyle" title to front board, paper titles to spines. Does not include dust jackets. As a whole set the books are clean and unmarked, T.E.G. intact, paper titles on spine intact, no foxing to pages, no writing inside whatsoever. A number of the books show some discoloration to the tan cloth. Those and other flaws are listed here: Vol. I: Tiny (2mm) hole to cloth at front hinge (looks as though burned, perhaps from an ember that flew out of Doyle's pipe as he held the book to sign it). Includes frontispiece (photograph of Doyle) and onion skin over title page. Vol. II: Very slight crease to paper title on spine. Vol. III: Several ¼" spots of soiling (slight discoloration) to cloth spine. Vol. IV: Two ¼" spots of soiling (slight discoloration) to cloth spine. Vol. V: Tiny (2mm) water stain to paper title on spine, which blocks half of the U and M in "Volume". Vol. VI: (no discernible flaws) Vol. VII: (no discernible flaws) Vol. VIII: ?" tear to corner of paper title on spine, ¾" stain to front cover (only slightly darker as though from grease). Vol. IX: Tiny spot to back cover, several ?" spots of soiling (slight discoloration) to cloth spine. Vol. X: Tail of spine slightly soiled. Vol. XI: One ?" spot of soiling to cloth spine near front hinge. Vol. XII: Very slight crease to paper title on spine. Tiny scratch to gilt on top edge. Vol. XIII: Slight crease to paper title on pine. Slight rubbing to front board. Vol. XIV: Very slight rubbing to front board. Vol. XV: Slight crease to paper title on spine. Vol. XVI: Slight crease to paper title on spine. Several ¼" spots of soiling (slight discoloration) to cloth spine at rear hinge. Tiny scratch to gilt on top edge. Vol. XVII: Slight soiling to cloth at tail of rear hinge. Slight impression to rear board (as though a heavy mug was sitting on it for a minute too long). Vol. XVIII: (no discernible flaws) Vol. XIX: Faint scratch to gilt on top edge. Vol. XX: One tiny (2mm) spot of soiling to cloth spine near front hinge. Vol. XXI: Splotch of discoloration to spine. Vol. XXII: Two small spots of slight discoloration to front board. Vol. XXIII: (no discernible flaws) Vol. XXIV: Small spots and splotches of soiling (slight discoloration) to cloth at spine and front hinge. Very Good. Item #Dickens-29
Price: $5,495.00