The Library of Stephen J. Farber

Tall 8vo. Half-title; numerous illustrations in the text by Sidney Paget. (Light spotting.) Original pictorial light blue cloth over bevelled boards, stamped in gilt and black, all edges gilt, floral decorated endpapers (slight lean, very light sunning to spine, light rubbing to joints and fore-corners, hinges starting). Provenance: contemporary gift inscription dated in the year of publication on the front free endpaper in vol.1 and half-title in vol.2.

"Rarely has a character so quickly established itself on the popular imagination as did Sherlock Holmes in the latter half of 1891" (Green & Gibson)."

FIRST EDITION IN BOOK FORM, FIRST STATE with "Violent Hunter" for "Violet Hunter" on p.317. IN THE FIRST ISSUE BINDING, the vignette on the upper cover depicting the street sign without text. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was the first collection of Holmes stories to be published, following closely upon the phenomenal success of the series in the Strand Magazine. Green & Gibson A10a; De Waal 520; Queen's Quorum 16. A Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone of Detective Fiction.

[With:] DOYLE. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. London: George Newnes, 1894. Tall 8vo. Half-title; numerous illustrations in the text by Sidney Paget. (Light spotting) Original pictorial blue cloth over bevelled boards, stamped in gilt and black, all edges gilt (some darkening to upper cover, a touch of rubbing to edges, rear hinge starting); folding case housed with the above. FIRST EDITION. Green & Gibson A14a; De Waal 596.