The Best of Sherlock Holmes

Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887:

An Annotated Checklist and Census

9 August 2007

Sherlock Holmes first appeared in the 1887 issue of Beeton's Christmas Annual. It is now a rare collectible and considered the most expensive magazine in the world, with a Beeton's 1887 selling for $156,000 at Sotheby's in 2007. This checklist provides a description of the 1887 issue, some historical sale prices, a list of extant copies and their owners, and information on facsimiles. It serves as an annotated guide to additional sources of information on the magazine in general and on specific known copies.

If you know of other copies or have additional information about the ones listed here, please contact me.

News:

Sherlock Holmes contributes to charity? A newly-discovered copy of Beeton's sold at Bonhams in May 2008 for the benefit of Oxfam.

Checklist Topics

Beeton's 1887 Issue Description

Prices for the 1887 Beeton's

Summary of Recorded Copies

Index of Copies: Confirmed Excluded

Ownership Reports

Facsimiles

Sources & Acknowledgements

Beeton's 1887 Issue Description

Cover of Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887 with Sherlock Holmes

Beeton's Christmas Annual was a paperback magazine published from 1860 (volume 1) through 1898 (volume 39). Each issue also carried a distinctive title reflecting that season's contents. The 1887 edition, entitled "A Study in Scarlet," was approximately 8.5" x 5.5" and had color pictorial wrappers (cover). It was issued in November at a price of one shilling and sold out before Christmas. Besides the adjacent image of an original copy at Occidental College, there are photographs of several other copies online. The magazine included three works:

"A Study in Scarlet" by A. Conan Doyle, pp. 1 – 95.

"Food for Powder" by R. André, pp. 96 – 114.

"The Four-Leaved Shamrock" by C. J. Hamilton, pp. 115 – 138.

Pagination:

[i-ii] cover; [1-12] ads; [13] Title; [14] ad; [15] CONTENTS; [16-32] ads; [33] blank; [34] frontispiece; [1]-138 text; 139-168 ads; [iii-iv] back cover.

Photo Courtesy Occidental College

Notes:

1) The inside front cover and back cover contained advertisements. The outer covers were in color.

2) Arabic numerals are used above for simplicity in describing the preliminaries (front matter) but these pages did not show page numbers.

3) The back matter advertisements did show page numbers.

4) This pagination matches Edgar W. Smith's copy (R15) and its associated Baker Street Irregulars facsimile edition. William S. Hall reported a variant printing with eight fewer pages of front-matter advertising before the title page.

Binding Notes:

Beeton's Christmas Annual was issued as a paperback-style magazine although of course it did not use the modern paperback binding process. Some collectors had their copy bound. These bound copies typically contain the literary text portion of the magazine, but frequently do not include the original pictorial cover (wrappers), preliminaries or back matter advertising sections. Pages were usually trimmed along the edges as part of the binding process.

Variants:

On page 90, line 23 (second paragraph, fourth line): Some copies are lacking the "I" of "I fancy that he suspected..."

Illustrations:

D. H. Friston (engravings by W.M.R. Quick) for "A Study in Scarlet."

R. André for "Food for Powder."

Matt Stretch for "The Four-Leaved Shamrock."

Title page:

BEETON'S CHRISTMAS ANNUAL. | TWENTY-EIGHTH SEASON. | [short rule] | A | STUDY IN SCARLET | By A. CONAN DOYLE. | CONTAINING ALSO | Two Original Plays for Home Performance. | I. | "FOOD FOR POWDER." | By R. ANDRÉ. | II. | "THE FOUR-LEAVED SHAMROCK." | By C. J. HAMILTON. || With Numerous Original Engravings | BY | D. H. FRISTON, R. ANDRÉ, AND MATT STRETCH || WARD, LOCK AND CO. | LONDON: WARWICK HOUSE, SALISBURY SQUARE, E.C. | NEW YORK: BOND STREET. | [All rights reserved.]

Topics

Prices for the Beeton's 1887 Issue

The Antique Trader Vintage Magazines Price Guide describes Beeton's 1887 as "the most expensive magazine in the world." As with any rare collectible, prices vary based on factors such as condition, inscriptions, and association value. There have been a number of sales over the past twenty-five years.

2007: $156,000 at Sotheby's New York for a complete copy with spine in facsimile and some restorations and repairs

2004: $153,600 at Sotheby's New York for a complete copy that is creased and worn, with a small hole in the front wrapper

2001: $17,625 at Christie's New York for a bound copy without wrappers or advertisements

1995: $33,120 at Sotheby's London for a copy with the spine and rear cover in facsimile

1995: $14,375 at Christie's New York for a copy without wrappers or advertisements and bound in contemporary cloth

1991: $23,100 at Sotheby's New York for a copy with facsimiles of two pages of advertisements and the rear cover

1990: $125,000 advertised by Peter L. Stern for a complete copy in excellent condition

1990: $57,200 at Sotheby's New York for a copy that is chipped and somewhat loose, signed by Vincent Starrett and "Barnaby Ross" / "Ellery Queen" on the title-page

1987: $15,000 from a Pasadena collector

1983: $18,000 at the 23rd Antiquarian Book Fair in New York

Note: Auction prices include the buyer's premium.

Topics

Summary of Recorded Copies

This checklist identifies 30 copies of the 1887 Beeton's Christmas Annual. Libraries hold 20 of these copies. The University of Minnesota holds four copies. Yale has three copies and may have previously held another two. All other recorded owners have only a single copy.

Eleven copies are complete, including original wrappers and advertisements, although one of these has been bound and another has the spine in facsimile. Nineteen are known to lack original wrappers and/or advertisements. Some of these have facsimile replacements for the missing originals.

Two copies are known to be signed by Conan Doyle (R19, R20). A third copy contained an unsigned inscription by him, but that page was stolen and is now missing (R16).

While detailed information on printing variants is not available for all copies, it is recorded that ten copies include the "I" of "I fancy" on page 90 and that nine copies lack this letter.

Photos of six copies are available online: R2 (Harvard), R3 (Indiana), R9 (Occidental), R11 (Princeton), R15 (Toronto), and R23 (Portsmouth).

Topics

Copy Index

R1. Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia)

R2. Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

R3. Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana)

R4. University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

R5. University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

R6. University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

R7. University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

R8. The Newberry Library (Chicago, Illinois)

R9. Occidental College (Los Angeles, California)

R10. University of Oxford (Oxford, England)

R11. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)

R12. National Library of Scotland (Edinburgh, Scotland)

R13. Stanford University (Stanford, California)

R14. University of Texas (Austin, Texas)

R15. Toronto Reference Library (Toronto, Canada)

R16. Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)

R17. Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)

R18. Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)

R19. Estate of Dame Jean Conan Doyle

R20. Private Collector in New England

R21. Constantine Rossakis

R22. Not Identified (Pond copy)

R23. Portsmouth Central Library (Portsmouth, England)

R24. Garth Hazlett

R25. Not Identified (Liebman copy)

R26. Alan Denner

R27. Private Collector

R28. Not Identified (Blair copy)

R29. University of Wyoming (Laramie, Wyoming)

R30. Not Identified (Pimlico copy)

Excluded Copies

RX1. The British Library (Copy Destroyed)

RX2. Yale University (Copy Missing)

RX3. Yale University (Missing or ghost copy)

RX4. York University (Copy Missing)

RX5. James Holroyd's copy (possibly R26)

RX6. University of Colorado (BSI Facsimile)

RX7. California State University Chico (No record)

RX8. Rollin Hadley's copy (status unknown)

Confirmed Copies of Beeton's Christmas Annual for 1887

R1. Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia)

This copy is part of the Glover-Greene Victorian Detective Fiction Collection and is held in Woodruff Special Collections. It can be found in their EUCLID online catalog using "Study in Scarlet" as the title. References: Catalog, Bergem #12. (Last updated 12/14/03)

Library website: http://www.emory.edu/LIBRARIES/

Special Collections site: http://web.library.emory.edu/libraries/speccolls/

Notes: Bound in full red morocco without original wrappers and most advertisements. Previously owned by Graham Greene. (PR4622 .S881 1887 G.GREENE)

R2. Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Once part of the Harold Wilmerding Bell collection, this copy is owned by The Speckled Band of Boston and has been placed on deposit at Harvard's Houghton Library. It can be found in their HOLLIS Union Catalog using "Beetons Christmas" as the title. The catalog record provides a detailed description of this copy. References: John Bergquist 5/5/07 report; Catalog; Bergem #15; Personal correspondence with a Speckled Band member; Pull. (Last updated 7/14/07)

Library website: http://lib.harvard.edu/

Houghton Library (rare books and manuscripts) site: http://hcl.harvard.edu/houghton

See Harvard's Conan Doyle Sesquicentennial Symposium page for a photo of the cover of this copy.

Notes: Complete, original wrappers and ads. Front cover missing triangular-shaped area of cover design in lower right corner and small portion of upper right corner. Spine lacking top layer of paper and thus appears blank. (Houghton *EC9 D7722 887s)

R3. Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana)

This copy is held in the Lilly Library for rare books and was from the personal collection of J.K. Lilly. It can be found in the University IUCAT online catalog using "Study in Scarlet" as the title. The Lilly Library has an outstanding online exhibition of Holmes material as noted below. References: Catalog; Bergem #14; Blau. (Last updated 12/16/03)

University Library website: http://www.libraries.iub.edu/

Lilly Library site: http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly

Bloomington by Gaslight: Sherlock Holmes in the Lilly Library: http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/holmes

Beeton's and the origin of Holmes: http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/holmes/origin.shtml

See detailed images of the Lilly Library Beeton's copy cover and an interior illustration.

Notes: Complete, original wrappers and ads. The catalog record indicates only 95 pages, but this likely refers only to the Holmes story in the issue. (B-LILLY PR4622 .S9 1887)

R4. University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

The Sherlock Holmes Collections at the University of Minnesota contain the world's largest collection of Sherlockiana. They are part of the Special Collections and Rare Books Department. This copy can be found in the MNCAT online catalog using a Keyword Search for "Beeton" in Title Keywords and then looking for an entry with the year "1887." Click its title "A study in scarlet" to see the record summary, then within that summary click the call number link to see specific item details. Note that the catalog also lists some other issues of Beeton's and three facsimile editions of the 1887 issue. Copy viewed Sep. 2005 and Oct. 2000. Minnesota also holds copies R5, R6, and R7. References: Catalog; Personal notes Sep. 2005 & Oct. 2000; Bergem #2; Blau. (Last updated 10/13/05)

Library website: http://www.lib.umn.edu/

Special Collections site: http://special.lib.umn.edu/rare/index.html

Notes: Bound in full red Morocco with gilt lettering and edges. Includes original front cover but lacks the back cover and most ads. The Clendening-Starrett copy. Includes "I" (PR4622 .S76 1887)

R5. University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

See Minnesota copy R4 for collection and library details. Copy viewed Sep. 2005 and Oct. 2000. Minnesota also holds copies R4, R6, and R7. References: Catalog; Personal notes Sep. 2005 & Oct. 2000; Bergem #3; Blau. (Last updated 10/13/05)

Notes: Partial original front cover, nearly complete copy lacking only 1 leaf of ads and the back cover. A facsimile front cover is tipped onto the original front cover. The Lord Donegall Christmas card copy. Includes "I" (PR4622 .S76 1887)

R6. University of Minnesota (Minne apolis, Minnesota)

See Minnesota copy R4 for collection and library details. Copy viewed Sep. 2005 and Oct. 2000. Minnesota also holds copies R4, R5, and R7. References: Catalog; Personal notes Sep. 2005 & Oct. 2000; Bergem #4; Blau. (Last updated 10/13/05)

Notes: Bound in burgundy cloth, with original text but most other parts in facsimile. The front cover and the full-page illustration facing the first page of text are facsimiles. Without "I" (PR4622 .S76 1887)

R7. University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

See Minnesota copy R4 for collection and library details. Copy viewed Sep. 2005 and Oct. 2000. Minnesota also holds copies R4, R5, and R6. References: Catalog; Personal notes Sep. 2005 & Oct. 2000; Bergem #5; Blau. (Last updated 10/13/05)

Notes: Bound in red cloth, without wrappers or ads but does have the original title page, contents, and illustration facing the first page of text. The Kern copy. Includes "I" (PR4622 .S76 1887)

R8. The Newberry Library (Chicago, Illinois)

This is part of the C. Frederick Kittle Collection of Doyleana at The Newberry Library. It is listed in their Voyager ILCSO ILLINET online catalog under the title "Beeton's Christmas Annual." The catalog entry provides an excellent detailed description of their copy. The Kittle / Newberry copy cover is reproduced on page 109 of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes: Essays and Art on the Doctor and the Detective by Donald J. Terras. The March 1997 Caxtonian at <http://www.caxtonclub.org/reading/doyle.html> also provides information on Dr. Kittle and his collection. Stanley MacKenzie used this copy for his 1987 postcard. References: Newberry staff 9/10/03 & 9/11/03 e-mail to me; Bergem #13; March 1997 Caxtonian. (Last updated 9/27/03)

Library website: http://www.newberry.org/

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Beyond Sherlock Holmes 2003 Exhibit

Program/Photos: http://www.newberry.org/programs/Doyle.html

Media Kit: http://www.newberry.org/programs/ACDmediakit.html

Notes: Complete copy with back wrapper in facsimile. Without "I" (PR4622 .S778 1887)

R9. Occidental College (Los Angeles, California)

This copy is part of the Guymon Mystery and Detective Fiction Collection in the Special Collections Department. It is listed in the OASys online catalog under the title "A Study in Scarlet." The Special Collections web page includes a picture of the magazine and provides some additional information on their holdings. References: Stock 'Citings' R9a; Occidental staff 1/22/03 e-mail to me; Catalog; Bergem #6. (Last updated 12/16/03)

Library website: http://departments.oxy.edu/library/

Special Collections site: http://departments.oxy.edu/library/geninfo/collections/special/

Notes: Complete, original wrappers and ads. Cover photo shown above. Includes "I" (823.91 D754stu)

R10. University of Oxford (Oxford, England)

The Bodleian Library lists this copy in their Bodleian Pre-1920 Catalogue (and not directly in their main catalogue OLIS, although the two can be searched simultaneously through OLIS GeoWeb). Two relevant records can be found by searching for the title "Beetons Christmas." It is probably held in Duke Humfrey's Library. References: Catalog; Bergem #18; Blau. (Last updated 11/17/02)

Library website: http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/

Rare Books site: http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/rarebooks/index.html

Notes: Bound with original wrappers and ads as well as volumes #26-29 (1885-1888). This copy was used to produce Gibson's Centenary Facsimile edition. Includes "I" (Arch. AA e.155 (1887))

R11. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)

This copy is held in the Department of Rare Books. It can be found in the Princeton University Library Main Catalog using "Beetons" as the title. After finding the entry, choose "Long View" to see details on its acquisition and description. References: Catalog, Bergem #16. (Last updated 3/30/05)

Library website: http://libweb.princeton.edu/

The Detective Fiction section of Princeton's online Guide to Selected Special Collections includes a short entry about their Beeton's copy. It also has a large photograph of the cover.

Notes: Complete, original wrappers and ads. (PR4622 .S88 1887)

R12. National Library of Scotland (Edinburgh, Scotland)

This copy is listed in their online Main Catalogue and may be found by searching for the title "Beeton's Christmas." References: Stock 'Citings' R12a; Phil Bergem 8/25/05 e-mail to me; Catalogue, NLS staff 9/9/03 e-mail to me. (Last updated 10/17/05)

Library website: http://www.nls.uk/

Rare Books site: http://www.nls.uk/collections/rarebooks/index.html

Notes: Bound in blue cloth with the first 16 pages of front-matter, all literary content and back-matter advertisements, but without wrappers or the plate (illustration) facing the first page of text. Without "I" (Shelfmark: Hall.201.b)

R13. Stanford University (Stanford, California)

This copy is part of the Kenyon Law Starling collection in the Department of Special Collections. It is listed in the Socrates online catalog, but only as a book under the title "A Study in Scarlet." Copy viewed December 2000. References: Catalog; Stock 'Citings' R13a; Bergem #7. (Last updated 11/16/02)

Library website: http://www-sul.stanford.edu/

Special Collections site: http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/spc/index.html

Notes: Bound without original wrappers or advertising sections but including title page and table of contents. (SPEC-COLL 71 05310 CB)

R14. University of Texas (Austin, Texas)

This copy is held in the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center. It is part of The Ellery Queen Collection of Mystery and Detective Fiction. The copy is not listed in finding aids on the Ransom Center site and there is no definitive entry in the university UTNetCAT online catalog. However, it is briefly described in An Exhibition on the Occasion of the Opening of the Ellery Queen Collection (Austin, 1959). References: Bergem #17; Blau; Exhibition. (Last updated 11/17/02)

Library website: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/

Ransom Center site: http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/

Detective Fiction: http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/collections/books/holdings/detective

Notes: Complete, original wrappers and ads. (possibly HRC AP 101 B4)

R15. Toronto Reference Library (Toronto, Canada)

The Toronto Reference Library has an entire collection devoted to Arthur Conan Doyle. This copy is held in that collection and can be found by searching for the title "Beetons Christmas" in their online catalog. References: Catalog; Bergem #19; Blau. (Last updated 7/20/07)

Library website: http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/

Arthur Conan Doyle Collection site: http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/uni_spe_conan_doyle.jsp

2006 Conference & Exhibit: includes a medium-sized Beeton's photo

2001 Footprints of the Hound Exhibit: The second page of the "Publications" section of the virtual exhibit contains an entry for their copy of Beeton's, and a thumbnail image links to a large detailed cover photo.

Notes: Complete, original wrappers and ads except missing lower left front cover. This copy was used by Edgar W. Smith to produce the 1960 BSI Facsimile edition. Without "I" (SP COLL-ACD 823.91 D598 1887)

R16. Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)

Yale holds several Beeton's copies and may have held more in the past. Their Orbis online catalog lists copies in both the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library and the Sterling Memorial Library Stacks. However, the Sterling copies are either missing or actually old records for copies that are now in Beinecke under different call numbers. More details are listed in the entries for Yale copies R16, R17, and R18 as well as "missing" Yale copies RX2 and RX3. Use the title "Beetons Christmas" to find the records in the Orbis online catalog. This generates a number of overlapping records, so it is worthwhile to inspect each entry using the "Long View" option. References: Phillip Bergem 2/12/06 report; Dr. Richard Sveum 3/13/05 e-mail; Yale staff 3/10/05 e-mail; Yale staff 11/03 and 12/03 e-mails to me; Yale staff 11/13/03 phone call; Constantine Rossakis 4/6/03 phone call; Catalog; Bergem #8. (Last updated 5/27/06)

Library website: http://www.library.yale.edu/

Rare Books site: http://www.library.yale.edu/beinecke/

Notes: Imperfect copy, portions loose/disbound with some front-matter ads out of sequence, includes title and contents pages. Lacks original wrappers, 10 pages of front-matter ads, frontispiece illustration, text leaf [1]/2, and ads on 167/168. Bookplate of Chauncey Brewster Tinker. Without "I" (Beinecke Tinker 847)

Formerly inscribed "With the Author's Compliments" by ACD on the first text page, but not signed. In March 2003 it was reported that this first leaf of text had been removed. As of January 2006 this inscribed leaf is still missing. If you hear of a made-up copy of Beeton's with the first text page inscribed "With the Author's Compliments" or of the leaf by itself, please report it to Vincent Giroud (1-203-432-2872) at Beinecke.

R17. Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)

See Yale copy R16 for collection and library details. This copy (R17: Beinecke 1974 89) was reported as having originally been held in Sterling as SML Stacks In D772 887Sc (RX3), with the call number changing when it was transferred to Beinecke. However, a later message from the Yale staff indicates this is still under investigation. Yale also holds copies R16 and R18 as well as "missing" Yale copies RX2 and RX3. References: Phillip Bergem 2/12/06 report; Yale staff 11/03 and 12/03 e-mails to me; Yale staff 11/13/03 phone call; Constantine Rossakis 4/6/03 phone call; Catalog; Bergem #9. (Last updated 5/27/06)

Notes: Heavily conserved incomplete copy that includes the front cover, title and contents pages, and all text. Lacks first 12 pages of front-matter ads, frontispiece illustration, all back-matter ads, spine, and back cover. Many pages frayed and torn. Includes "I" (Beinecke 1974 89)

R18. Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)

See Yale copy R16 for collection and library details. Yale also holds copies R16 and R17 as well as "missing" Yale copies RX2 and RX3. References: Phillip Bergem 2/12/06 report; Stock 'Citings' R18a; Dr. Richard Sveum 3/13/05 e-mail; Yale staff 11/03 and 12/03 e-mails to me; Yale staff 11/13/03 phone call; Catalog. (Last updated 5/27/06)

Notes: Bound in red leather with all text and frontispiece illustration but without other front-matter, wrappers, and most back-matter ads. Fodder bookplate. Without "I" (Beinecke 2002 302)

R19. Estate of Dame Jean Conan Doyle

Current Owner: Estate of Dame Jean Conan Doyle, November 1997 – present (August 2007)

Previous Owners:

Dame Jean Conan Doyle, died November 1997

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, died July 1930

Notes: Bound, text of only A Study in Scarlet pp. 1-95 (lacking original front/back covers, advertisements, and other literary matter). A number of contemporary reviews of A Study in Scarlet are pasted onto extra leaves at the rear of the bound copy. Signed by ACD on first page with "Return to Dr A. Conan Doyle."

References: Jon Lellenberg 8/2/07, 11/21/05, 10/16/03 e-mail to me; Bergem #1; Blau. (Last updated 8/8/07)

R20. Private Collector in New England

Current Owner: Private Collector in New England, 1998 (or earlier) – present (June 2006)

Previous Owners:

Private collector, sold prior to 1998

William R. Smith, owned as of 1987, died March 1993

William S. Hall, purchased "some years before" 1963, died Sept. 1971

A British bookseller, sold to Hall "some years before" 1963

Notes: Bound, with wrappers and all except 4 leaves of ads. Inscribed by ACD "This is the very first | independent book of | mine which ever was | published | Arthur Conan Doyle. | Jan 9 / 14" on an extra leaf. Inscription reproduced in Hall's 1963 BSJ article. Includes "I"

References: Stock 'Citings' R20a; Owner's 6/3/06 & 1/22/03 e-mails to me; Bergem #21; Blau; Hall; Scuttlebutt March 1993. (Last updated 6/3/06)

R21. Constantine Rossakis

Current Owner: Constantine Rossakis, 22 June 2002 – present (June 2006)

Previous Owners:

Russell H. McMains, purchased at auction on June 15, 1990; sold 22 June 2002

J. Bliss Austin, sold at auction on June 15, 1990 after his death

"Barnaby Ross" / "Ellery Queen" (Frederic Dannay)

Vincent Starrett

A. H. Wheeler & Co., booksellers

Notes: Complete copy, with original wrappers and ads. Unrestored and in near-fine condition. Starrett's first copy. Signed by Starrett ("Vincent Starrett") and twice by Frederic Dannay (as "Barnaby Ross" and "Ellery Queen"). Without "I"

References: Stock 'Citings' R21a; Rossakis 6/4/06 & 1/13/03 e-mails to me; Bergem #20; Scuttlebutt June, Aug. 1990; Sotheby's catalog 15 June 1990. (Last updated 6/5/06)

R22. Not Identified (Pond copy)

Current Owner: Not Identified, 21 June 2007 – present (July 2007)

Previous Owners:

Heir of Walter Pond, sold at auction June 2007

Walter Pond, purchased December 1975, died January 2003

Lew David Feldman, purchased in 1975 and sold to Pond

Donegall Estate, sold to Feldman

Sixth Marquis of Donegall, died May 1975

Notes: Complete copy with spine in facsimile and some restoration to wrappers, repairs to margins of some preliminary advertisements and the frontispiece. Without "I"

References: Sotheby's NY 6/21/07 catalog; Scuttlebutt June, Apr. 2007, Jan. 2003; Bergem #23; Blau. (Last updated 7/14/07)

R23. Portsmouth Central Library (Portsmouth, England)

Richard Lancelyn Green bequeathed his entire Conan Doyle collection, including his fine Beeton's copy, to Portsmouth's library service. It can be found in their online catalogue using "Beetons Christmas" as the title. References: Catalogue; Library Autumn 2005 newsletter; Portsmouth City Council 8/5/04 press release; Green 12/13/03 e-mail to me; Bergem #24; Scuttlebutt Aug. 2004, March 2004, March 1988; Blau. (Last updated 8/8/07)

Previous Owners:

Richard Lancelyn Green, 1990 – 2004, died 27 March 2004

Peter L. Stern, sold in 1990 to Green

Marvin P. Epstein, purchased in 1987, died March 1988

Otto Penzler, purchased in 1987 and sold to Epstein

Private collector in California, sold in 1987 to Penzler

Library website: http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/learning/29.html

Lancelyn Green Collection: http://www.portsmouthand.co.uk/history/213.htm

The Collection's Autumn 2005 newsletter has a cover photo (PDF) of this copy.

Notes: Complete copy in superb condition. (823 DOY - Z000025715)

R24. Garth Hazlett

Current Owner: Garth Hazlett, Spring 2005 – present (May 2006)

Previous Owners:

Peter L. Stern (book dealer), 2001 – Spring 2005

Sold at Christie's NY auction, 17 April 2001

David Waxman, a book dealer, 1999 – 2000

Sold at Phillips, Son & Neale auction, 5 November 1999

Private collector in England, ca. 1940 – 1999

Notes: Bound in late 19th century cloth with all text pages (1-144), contents page, and the illustration facing the first page of text, but lacking wrappers, ads and title page. Private library ink stamps on front free endpaper and blank recto of frontispiece illustration. Also bound with Bow Bells Annual for 1870. Without "I"

References: Stock 'Citings' R24a; Hazlett 5/1/06 letter to me; Stern 4/6/05 & 10/23/03 e-mail to me; Bergem #26 & note; Scuttlebutt May 2000. (Last updated 7/17/07)

R25. Not Identified (Liebman copy)

Current Owner: Not Identified

Previous Owners:

Charles J. Liebman, sold at auction on Feb. 22, 1995 after his death

Claremont (on the Contents leaf)

Walter Schatzki (bookseller's slip)

Notes: Bound without wrappers or ads.

References: Bergem #27; Scuttlebutt March 1995. (Last updated 11/20/02)

R26. Alan Denner

Current Owner: Alan Denner, 1972 – present (April 2005)

Previous Owners:

Lew David Feldman, sold in 1972

May have been owned by James Holroyd (see copy RX5)

Notes: Bound in 3/4 Morocco, text only pp. 1-138 (lacking original front/back covers and advertisements). The "9" of page "90" is defective. Includes "I"

References: Bergem #28; Stock 'Citings' R26a; Denner 4/6/05 & 11/14/02 e-mail to me. (Last updated 4/6/05)

R27. Private Collector

Current Owner: Private Collector.

Previous Owners:

Marvin P. Epstein, died March 1988

Walter Pond

Stanley MacKenzie

Notes: Complete copy in good condition, with facsimiles of the wrappers and first and last leaf of ads. Includes "I"

References: Copy viewed October 2004; Personal correspondence; Bergem #22; Scuttlebutt March 1988; Blau. (Last updated 10/30/04)

R28. Not Identified (Blair copy)

Current Owner: Not Identified, 12/3/04 – present (December 2004)

Previous Owners:

Natalie K. Blair (Mrs. J. Insley Blair), died 1952

Notes: Complete copy in good condition, with some wear and loss to front wrapper.

References: Sotheby's NY 12/3/04 catalog; Scuttlebutt Dec. 2004. (Last updated 1/3/05)

R29. University of Wyoming (Laramie , Wyoming)

This is part of the Frederick W. Toppan Collection in the Toppan Library at the University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center. It can be found in their online catalog using "Study in Scarlet" as the title. References: Stock 'Citings' R29a; Toppan Library staff 8/06 e-mails to me; Catalog. (Last updated 8/8/07)

Library website: http://ahc.uwyo.edu/default.htm

Toppan Collection site: http://ahc.uwyo.edu/about/departments/toppan.htm

Notes: Bound in navy morocco leather by Bayntun-Riviere of Bath with all edges gilt and marbled endpapers. Includes all text pages 1-138 and frontispiece illustration, but lacks original wrappers, title page, contents page, and advertisements. Includes "I" (PR4622 .D6 1887)

R30. Not Identified (Pimlico copy)

Current Owner: Not Identified (July 2007)

Previous Owners:

Pimlico Books, a dealer

Not Identified, sold at Bloomsbury Auctions 1 November 1999

Notes: Bound in contemporary half calf, text only pp. 1-138 with frontispiece illustration but lacking original wrappers, title page, contents page and advertisements. Also bound with three other magazine Christmas numbers.

References: Stock 'Citings' R30a; Bloomsbury Auctions 7/18/07 e-mail; Bloomsbury 11/1/99 catalogue; Peter Blau 7/12/07 e-mail to me. (Last updated 7/26/07)

Excluded Copies

The following items have been reported but do not qualify as confirmed Beeton's copies for a variety of reasons. If you have additional information about these copies or know about other copies, please contact me.

RX1. The British Library (Copy Destroyed)

The British Library in London served as a copyright depository in 1887 and presumably received its copy of Beeton's at the time of publication. Although it is still listed in the BLPC online catalog under the title "Study in Scarlet," this copy no longer exists. References: Catalog; Bergem reference; 9/2/02 e-mail to ACD Discussion List from M.C. Black via Bergem; Blau; Hall (editorial note). (Last updated 11/25/02)

Library website: http://www.bl.uk/

Notes: Destroyed by enemy bombs during World War II. The record suggests it may have been a bound copy with text only. (P.P.6704)

RX2. Yale University (Copy Missing)

See Yale copy R16 for collection and library details. This copy was reported missing in March 2003 and was still missing in December 2003. The Orbis catalog entry is somewhat confusing as it also refers to another item (Ia107 B393 13-15) that includes three earlier Beeton's volumes as well as two related volumes. However, it does not appear that the Holmes issue (Ia107 B393 28) was bound with any other material. Yale also holds copies R16, R17 and R18 as well as "missing" Yale copy RX3. References: Yale staff 11/03 and 12/03 e-mails to me; Constantine Rossakis 4/6/03 phone call; Catalog; Bergem #10. (Last updated 12/18/03)

Notes: No description available. Missing copy. (SML Stacks Ia107 B393 28)

RX3. Yale University (Missing or ghost copy)

See Yale copy R16 for collection and library details. This copy (RX3: SML Stacks In D772 887Sc) was reported as having been transferred to Beinecke and given the new call number "Beinecke 1974 89" (Yale copy R17). However, a later message from the Yale staff indicates that this is still under investigation. The Orbis online catalog entry for "SML Stacks In D772 887Sc" may therefore be for historical purposes and only indicates a "ghost copy," or it may be that RX3 is a distinct copy and is missing. Yale also holds copies R16, R17 and R18 as well as "missing" Yale copy RX2. References: Yale staff 11/03 and 12/03 e-mails to me; Yale staff 11/13/03 phone call; Constantine Rossakis 4/6/03 phone call; Catalog; Bergem #11. (Last updated 12/18/03)

Notes: No description available. Missing or ghost copy. (SML Stacks In D772 887Sc)

RX4. York University (Copy Missing)

York University in Toronto, Canada may have held a Beeton's copy. An 1887 copy is listed in their online catalog under the title "Beetons Christmas" and was apparently held in the regular collections of Scott Library. However, it was reported missing in September 2003 and the catalog has been revised to show that status. References: York staff 9/9/03 e-mail to me; Catalog. (Last updated 12/20/03)

Library web site: http://www.library.yorku.ca/

Notes: No details available. (AP 101 B4 1887)

RX5. James Holroyd's copy (possibly R26)

According to an editorial note to Hall's 1963 BSJ article, James Holroyd owned a Beeton's copy in 1963. It's possible that this is one of those already listed as a confirmed copy, and Richard Lancelyn Green once identified it as copy R26 above. That copy does match the description of textual variants noted for Holroyd's copy. References: Personal correspondence; Hall (editorial note). (Last updated 4/6/05)

Notes: The "9" of page "90" was defective. Includes "I"

RX6. University of Colorado (BSI Facsimile)

The Chinook online catalog for the University of Colorado at Boulder lists a copy under the periodical title "Beeton" held in their Special Collections. While not indicated in the online record, this is actually a BSI facsimile edition. References: CU staff 9/5/03 e-mail to me; Catalog. (Last updated 12/20/03)

Notes: BSI facsimile edition with associated dust jacket. (AP 101 B4)

RX7. California State University Chico (No record)

It's been reported that CSU Chico held a copy of Beeton's 1887. However, there is no record of this in the online catalog and the Department Head of Special Collections stated that they had never held "this particular Annual." References: CSU staff 12/3/01 e-mail to me; Catalog. (Last updated 12/19/03)

RX8. Rollin Hadley's copy (status unknown)

I've been told that Rollin Van Nostrand Hadley owned a copy of Beeton's. Hadley, a BSI who died in 1992, had a fine collection of Conan Doyle material including the manuscript for "The Abbey Grange." He may have purchased his Beeton's from Lew David Feldman, who was a prominent Sherlockian dealer from the 1950s to the 1970s. A private collector in the Midwest may have purchased this copy in the 1990s. It's also possible that Vincent Starrett, who definitely owned two other copies (R4 and R21) at different times, once owned this copy as well.

This copy is probably not accounted for on this checklist, but it's not a distinct "confirmed" copy until more details are available or current ownership is verified.

Please contact me if you have any information about this copy. References: Personal correspondence; Scuttlebutt Feb. 1992. (Last updated 4/6/05)

Topics

Ownership Reports

Library Copies

Library holdings information generally comes from online catalog records and was cross-checked with other printed and electronic sources. The principle references are listed for each copy. Further details on copy condition and prior ownership are often available in the articles by Phillip Bergem (2002) and Peter Blau (1987), and occasionally in the online catalog record.

Cataloguers have taken varying approaches to listing this item. Some enter it as a periodical under the title Beeton's Christmas Annual. However, others treat each annual issue as a separate book. Some use "Beeton's" or "Beeton's Christmas Annual" as the title while others use "A Study in Scarlet." When that occurs, "Beeton" often appears as an alternate or additional title or as the "author" or "additional author." To simplify your searches, I include the search term used to locate the copy at each library.

Privately Held Copies

A number of confirmed copies are privately owned. Multiple sources indicate that these are truly distinct copies. As with library copies, the principle references are listed and Bergem (2002) and Blau (1987) may provide additional information.

It's likely that a few privately held copies are not yet identified on this checklist. If you know of other copies or have additional information about the ones listed here, please contact me.

Occasionally people prefer that some of the information they provide, or their identity, be kept private. I've done that for them and would similarly respect your wishes.

Topics

Sources & Acknowledgements

This checklist accounts for all copies identified by Bergem (2002) and Blau (1987). While it includes some corrections and updates to their information, both still contain useful material that is not repeated here. This checklist also includes copies not listed in their reports. Please note that abbreviated dates are given in the American form of month/day/year.

Bergem, Phillip G. "The 1887 Beeton’s Christmas Annual: A History and Current Census." The Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota Christmas Annual 2002, (December 2002): 8-18. This update to Blau's 1987 census includes a short history of the magazine, a collation for the 1887 issue, and a table with 28 numbered copies along with their descriptions and prior ownership information. The copies in the article are cross-referenced in this checklist, but Bergem's table includes additional provenance and descriptive material.

Blau, Peter E. "Prolegomenon to a Census of Beeton's Christmas Annual." Baker Street Miscellanea, No. 52 (Winter 1987): 16-19. A preliminary census identifies 14 copies and notes that 10 others have been reported. While Bergem's 2002 article updates the census, this article remains a useful reference for its provenance information and collecting anecdotes.

Blau, Peter E. Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press, various issues. This invaluable Sherlockian newsletter is available online for 1985+ at <http://members.cox.net/sherlock1/scuttle.htm>.

De Waal, Ronald Burt. The Universal Sherlock Holmes. Edited by George A. Vanderburgh. Foreword by John Bennett Shaw. Illustrated by Betty and George Wells. Toronto: Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library, 1994. The ultimate guide to all things Sherlockian indexes Beeton's as C1226 and the associated facsimiles as C1227, C1228, and C1229. It's available from George Vanderburgh's Battered Silicon Dispatch Box website. An electronic version of this work is available online from the University of Minnesota.

Green, Richard Lancelyn, and John Michael Gibson. A Bibliography of A. Conan Doyle. First revised edition. New York: Hudson House, 2000. The definitive Conan Doyle bibliography recounts the relevant publication history on pages 9-11 and 713. Gibson produced the Centenary Facsimile noted elsewhere.

Hall, William S. "An Enquiry into the Nature of a Certain Nineteenth Century Beeton's Christmas Annual." The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 13, No. 2 (June 1963): 112-114. (BSJ CD-ROM Disk 2, file 68). Hall highlights some differences between the BSI facsimile of Beeton's and the original. Purchase information for the BSJ CD-ROM is available from the Baker Street Journal website.

Occidental College. Special Collections Department. Photo of Beeton's cover from the Guymon Collection, used with permission.

Pull, John, ed. A Catalogue of Sherlockian Books and Manuscripts. Boston: The Speckled Band, 1994. This catalogue lists material at Harvard including the Beeton's deposited by The Speckled Band of Boston.

Russell, Richard and Elaine Gross Russell. Antique Trader Vintage Magazines Price Guide. Iola, Wisconsin: kp books, 2005. Includes more than 1,000 full-color photos, capsule histories of magazines and people who make issues collectible, and average retail prices for many issues. More details on Amazon.

Stanford University. Department of Special Collections, Green Library. One bound copy of Beeton's.

Stock, Randall. "Stock 'Citings': Updates on Copies of Beeton's Christmas Annual." Privately published, 2007, <http://members.aol.com/shbest/ref/stockcit.htm> (August 9, 2007). This supplement to the checklist provides additional notes on newly identified copies and significant new information on widely-known copies.

University of Minnesota. The Sherlock Holmes Collections, Elmer L. Anderson Library. Four copies of Beeton's.

For background on Samuel Beeton and a short history of his Christmas Annual, see Bergem's article and/or "Mr. and Mrs. Beeton's Christmas Annual" by Mary S. Cameron in the 1957 BSJ Christmas Annual (also on the BSJ CD-ROM).

I started this checklist in the fall of 2001 and expanded it in November 2001 as a result of an online discussion of A Study In Scarlet with The Hounds of the Internet. The checklist was first posted in December 2002 for the Hounds next discussion of the story. The December 2003 edition was reformatted and included a number of revisions and additions. The edition for the April 2005 discussion lists one additional copy and updates ownership and descriptions for many entries. A November 2005 revision includes new details about the copies at the University of Minnesota and about the facsimile editions. The June 2006 edition provides new information about the Hazlett copy and the three Yale copies, along with minor updates on a few others. The August 2007 revision adds two more copies, updates the Pond copy, and includes new details about several others.

As noted in the checklist entries, staff members at many of the libraries and some auction houses provided invaluable assistance. The Occidental College Special Collections Department also made this checklist better by allowing me to include a photo of their copy. Thanks go to Beth Bogle, Jane Carpenter, Ken Hernden, Timothy Johnson, Bill Jones, Stephen C. Jones, Anne Marie Lane, Simon Luterbacher, James L. Mitchell, John Mustain, Judy Parker, Mike Sutherland, Jenny Schwartzberg, and Michelle Visser.

In addition, many private collectors and Sherlockians graciously offered their expertise and knowledge. I'm indebted to Phillip Bergem, John Bergquist, Peter Blau, Steve Clarkson, Alan Denner, Richard Lancelyn Green, Hugh Harrington, Garth Hazlett, Les Klinger, Jon Lellenberg, Jerry Margolin, Randee Mia, Constantine Rossakis, Peter L. Stern, Dr. Richard Sveum, Carolyn Tate, Ian Wood, Doug Wrigglesworth and others who preferred to remain anonymous.

While this checklist could never have been made without everyone's help, I am solely responsible for any errors or omissions. If I omitted your name, please be assured it was inadvertent and let me know so I can correct it.

Please send me e-mail if you have additions, corrections or suggestions for this checklist.

Vers. 1.70a1 Original work