The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes [with] The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

A superior set of the definitive volumes of Holmesian short stories. Both first editions with the correct issue points for Adventures. These are the first state of the blank street sign to the vignette of the upper cover (bound in at rear) and 'Miss Violent', uncorrected on p.317.

Doyle originally determined that the continuation Memoirs would mark the last appearance of Holmes, intending to kill off the character in The Final Problem. However, public demand prompted him to write another Holmes novel in 1901-1902, The Hound of the Baskervilles, set before The Final Problem. The following year a new series, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, began with the aftermath of The Final Problem, in which it is revealed that Holmes actually survived.

First editions; 2 vols, large 8vo (230 x 160 mm); illustrated throughout both volumes in black & white by Sidney Paget, frontispiece to 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes' with tissue-guard to 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes', only the occasional minor spot or mark throughout, not affecting legibility of text, to The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, the occasional smudge or mark to margins, only slightly affecting text at p. 248, and p. 269, some small marginal repaired nicks to pp 8, 237 and one larger tear to bottom blank margin p.157, none affecting text, else clean, both volumes bright and delightfully illustrated; modern full blue and black morocco by Bayntun-Rivière, double-line gilt panelled back, original cloth front covers bound in at rear of each, all edges gilt, a very handsome set; 318pp, 280pp.

Green & Gibson A10a; A14a.