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"A Shadow Before" Manuscript:
Christie's 2019 Sale Information
By Randall Stock, June 12, 2019 (revised)
Christie's sold the manuscript for Conan Doyle's short story "A Shadow Before" at auction in New York on June 12, 2019.
"A Shadow Before" Manuscript Description
Lot 171: Manuscript of "A Shadow Before" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Original autograph manuscript of Conan Doyle's story "A Shadow Before." Signed by the author three times, including at end as "A Conan Doyle | Undershaw | Hindhead." Not dated, but circa 1898. Headed on opening page as "A Shadow Before."
This manuscript consists of 13 leaves of text plus an autograph title page. Text is written in dark ink on the rectos only of ruled paper that is roughly 7 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches. As is common with Conan Doyle manuscripts, pages have a spindle/clip hole in the upper left corner.
The first page contains a remnant of a label attached in the top right corner, as shown here (rotated and cropped for legibility). See below for the full remnant in a photo of the entire first page.
Conan Doyle had many of his manuscripts bound by Spealls circa 1913-1914. This manuscript is bound in the typical white vellum over boards, and carries the binder's mark on its front pastedown. It includes an autograph title page with the story's title, author's signature, and the words "Original Manuscript." The author signed and titled the upper cover as "A Shadow Before | A Conan Doyle."
The pre-sale estimate is US$8,000 – US$10,000.
Sale Results
The manuscript sold for a price realized of US$13,750 (a hammer price of $11,000 plus the buyer's premium).
Publishing History
This tale first appeared in the December 1898 issue of The Windsor Magazine, with six illustrations by R. Caton Woodville and one illustration by Lucy E. Kemp Welch. Its first American publication came in the January 1899 issue of Ainslee’s Magazine (New York) with eight illustrations by Ellsworth Young.
It was collected in The Green Flag and Other Stories of War and Sport. Smith Elder published the first English edition of the book on March 27, 1900. McClure Phillips provided the first American edition in March 1900.
Manuscript Ownership History
Conan Doyle sent this manuscript to auction in New York at the American Art Association as lot 240 on January 31, 1923. Rollin Van Nostrand Hadley sold it on March 22, 1966 via Parke-Bernet as lot 180, where it was probably purchased by the Carnegie Book Shop in Manhattan. A "California Collector" offered it at Sotheby's New York as lot 315 on December 10, 1993.
The current Christie's auction describes this manuscript as being part of the Roger D. Judd Collection of Historical Letters, Documents & Manuscripts. The Judd Collection includes lots 96-179.
If you have any other provenance information, or details about Judd and his collection, please contact me. I keep sources and information private upon request.
"A Shadow Before" Manuscript Photos
First page of "A Shadow Before" manuscript
Last Page of "A Shadow Before" Manuscript
Conan Doyle's signature at the end of the manuscript
For more details on the manuscript and additional photos, see the description section above.
Christie's Catalogue & Sale Information
Christie's provides online information for their sale number 17037. This sale page also provides links to an interactive e-catalogue, a PDF version of the catalogue, and an option to purchase the printed catalogue.
You can also go directly to their listing for Lot 171: Conan Doyle's "A Shadow Before" manuscript. It includes large photos of the first and last pages of the manuscript.
Sale Information
Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts Including Americana
Sale Number: 17037
Wednesday June 12, 2019 at 2:00 PM EDT in New York
20 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020
Phone: +1 212 636 2000
The buyer's premium is 25% on the first $300,000, plus additional premium on amounts in excess of $300,000.
Pre-sale Viewing in New York, Rockefeller Center
Fri. 7 June: 10am - 5pm EDT
Sat. 8 June: 10am - 5pm EDT
Sun. 9 June: 1pm - 5pm EDT
Mon. 10 June: 10am - 5pm EDT
Tue. 11 June: 10am - 5pm EDT
Acknowledgements and Page History
Manuscript photos courtesy of Christie's.
My thanks to Katelyn Kraunelis at Christie's, and to Peter E. Blau and Steven Rothman for their assistance.
This page is based on information provided by Christie's, and from other research including prior auction catalogues and sale reports.
The first version of this report appeared May 23, 2019. More details about its provenance were added on May 27. The actual price realized from the sale was added on June 12.
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Randall Stock. All Rights Reserved.