THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES with THE MEMOIRS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

London: George Newnes Limited, 1892 and 1894. First Edition. Hardcover. The ADVENTURES has a previous owner's name in ink dated 1892 on the front endpaper, scattered light foxing, hinges cracked with the front cover a little loose and a couple of places in the text where there is some separation and looseness of the signatures; some moderate rubbing to the spine, a scratch on the front panel with the gilt fairly bright. Very Good. MEMOIRS has an 1896 owner name on the recto of the frontispiece, clean text throughout, hinges slightly cracked; some mild rubbing to the spine, covers clean with very bright gilt. Near Fine. Clamshell box with the backstrip (truncated) sunned and minor wear. Overall a Very Good set. Sidney Paget. Two large octavo (6-1/4" x 9-1/2") volumes: original light blue beveled cloth, front and spine stamped in black and gold, all edges gilt, floral patterned endpapers; original dark blue beveled cloth, front and spine stamped in black and gold, all edges gilt, floral patterned endpapers; [1-4,] [1], 2-317, [318: printers imprint], [319-320: blank] pages; [1-6], [1], 2-279, [280: blank] pages. First Issue of ADVENTURES in the correct first state binding with "cucaine" on page 133 and "Violent" on page 317. These two volumes collect the first 23 short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, starting with "A Scandal in Bohemia" and ending with "The Final Problem." Glover & Greene, VICTORIAN DETECTIVE FICTION #128 & #129; Green and Gibson, A10 and A14: "Rarely has a character so quickly established itself on the popular imagination as did Sherlock Holmes in the latter half of 1891"; Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone. Queen's Quorum #16 (ADVENTURES); Keating, CRIME & MYSTERY: THE BEST 100 BOOKS (ADVENTURES). Housed in a custom blue half morocco and blue cloth clamshell box with a gilt-lettered spine. (Inventory #: 020765)