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www.bestofsherlock.com/mss/crooked-man-2024.htm
By Randall Stock, February 23, 2024 (revised)
RR Auction offered page 4 of Conan Doyle's manuscript for "The Crooked Man," a Sherlock Holmes short story, on February 22, 2024.
Topics
One page written on the recto only of a leaf measuring approximately 8 x 12.75 inches. Not signed or dated but c. 1893. As is common for Holmes manuscripts, the sheet includes a small hole in the upper left corner from a paper fastener.
Conan Doyle wrote in ink on this lined paper, with most of the changes marked in pencil. The most notable revisions include changing the victim/villain's name from "Robert Barker" to "James Barclay," and renaming "Miss Annie Devoy" as "Miss Nancy Devoy."
Only the first four pages still exist from the manuscript of "The Crooked Man," with a total of about 1,100 words. This leaf as page 4 consists of approximately 285 words. All four pages were sold at Sotheby's in 2023.
For photos from that sale, including page 4, see my report for the Crooked Man manuscript sale at Sotheby's in 2023.
Presale Estimate: US$40,000+
Online bidding opened on January 19 with a minimum bid of US$5,000.
Sale Results
Bidding did not reach the undisclosed reserve and the manuscript page went unsold. The highest bid reported online was $32,120, but that probably reflected the auction house bidding up to the reserve.
For more information about the auction itself, see the auction catalog section below.
Conan Doyle published his first twelve Holmes short stories as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892). He then wrote another twelve Holmes stories, including "The Crooked Man," that appeared in book form at end of 1893 as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
Most of his early Holmes manuscripts no longer exist. The only complete manuscript from the Memoirs is "The Greek Interpreter." Of the other stories in the Memoirs, four pages remain from "The Crooked Man," as well as single pages from "The Reigate Squires" and "The Final Problem." The Sherlock Holmes Manuscript Census lists all the Holmes manuscripts
For more details about "The Crooked Man," see the history section of my report for the Crooked Man manuscript sale at Sotheby's in 2023.
The story appeared in the July 1893 Strand Magazine, and in America in both the July 8, 1893 issue of Harper's Weekly and the August 1893 number of the New York Strand. Collected in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, George Newnes published the English first edition in 1893 (although dated 1894), and Harper & Brothers produced the American first edition in 1894.
Christie's London April 28, 1966 lot 189 to Maggs; a California dealer (from Maggs); Lew David Feldman / House of El Dieff (Catalogue 71 issued November 1971, item 15); Alastair B. Martin (purchased from Feldman, died 1/12/10); Robin Bradley Martin (bequest of Alastair B. Martin, sold July 20, 2023 in lot 1185 via Sotheby's NY ); page 4 offered via RR Auction February 22, 2024 as lot 4034.
See my report for the 2023 Crooked Man manuscript sale with photos of page 4 as well as the first page and part of page two of the manuscript.
RR Auction provides an online listing and bidding page for Lot #4034: Manuscript page 4 from "The Crooked Man". Their website includes three photos of the manuscript's fourth page.
Remarkable Rarities
January 19, 2024 - February 22, 2024
RR Auction New York
Phone: +1 603-732-4280
The buyer's premium is 25%.
Thanks to Peter E. Blau, Ross Davies, Ira Matetsky, and Scott Monty for their assistance. This page is based on information from the RR Auction online catalog as well as other research.
The first version of this report appeared on January 20, 2024. It was revised to include the sale results on February 23, 2024.
Census of Sherlock Holmes Manuscripts
The Hound of the Baskervilles Manuscript Census
Other Conan Doyle rarities like Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887 and Sidney Paget drawings.
Lists of each year's best Sherlock Holmes books & DVDs, the most famous Sherlock Holmes quotes, and more Top 10 Lists.
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Vers. 2.1bx-RN Original work
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Randall Stock. All Rights Reserved.