Facsimile Editions of Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887

By Randall Stock, May 5, 2019

There have been at least four printed facsimile versions produced of the 1887 Beeton's Christmas Annual.  Since an original Beeton's 1887 is reported to be "the most expensive magazine in the world," these facsimile editions are themselves quite popular, and some are quite valuable.

 

NEWS: An affordable version of Beeton's 1887 is now available!

 

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BSI Beeton's Facsimile edition (1960)

Magico Reprint of the BSI edition (1987)

Centenary Facsimile edition  (1987/88)

Life is Amazing edition (2018)

Sources & Acknowledgements

Other Rare Sherlockiana

 

None of the "facsimiles" are exact replicas, but Gibson's 1987 Centenary edition is remarkably close.  Modern facsimiles typically use a photographic reproduction process, so a facsimile cover can be distinguished from the original engraved cover by the presence of the many tiny dots.  Other indications are noted with the individual items described below.  The Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887 Annotated Checklist and Census contains a full description of the original magazine along with historical sale prices and locations for many of the extant copies.

 

BSI Beeton's Facsimile edition (1960)

The Baker Street Incunabula, no. 8.  [London and Morristown, N.J.: The Sherlock Holmes Society of London and The Baker Street Irregulars, Inc., 1960].  This softcover facsimile was produced jointly by Edgar W. Smith (BSI) and Lord Donegall (Sherlock Holmes Society of London) using Smith's copy of Beeton's Christmas Annual (R15), which is now held at the Toronto Reference Library.  It lacks the "I" in "I fancy" on page 90.  This facsimile was reprinted with a new introduction in 1987 by Magico.

 

Advertised in the July 1960 Baker Street Journal, it was offered for $7 in advance and for $10 after its Christmas 1960 publication.  It came with a pictorial paper dust jacket.  There were 500 numbered copies and 100 of these were allocated to the Sherlock Holmes Society of London.  Additional, un-numbered copies were also sold.  The original Beeton's contained some color advertisements while this facsimile had black and white advertisements.  In addition, three intentional variations were made to identify this as a facsimile:

 

Some copies (presumably those in addition to the 500 numbered copies) were not stamped.  For those copies in the U.S. that were stamped, the limitation appeared at the bottom portion of the title page.  The red-ink stamp identified the issue as a facsimile "…in an edition of 500 copies, of which this is No. ___."  The copy number was added by hand in ink.

 

In England, a purple-ink stamp was placed at the end of the publisher's note on page 172.  It stated "Of the 100 copies of Beeton's (1960) allocated to the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, for European distribution, this copy is No. xx."  The copy number was added by hand in ink, with variations of a written number ("thirty"), as numerals ("18" or "85"), or as numerals with a suffix ("76A" or "82A").  Many copies bear the signature "Donegall" near the limitation, and some copies have been reported with blue-ink or pink-ink limitation stamps.  This variation suggests the copies were stamped and numbered over an extended period of time.  Sherlockians have reported that Donegall still sold copies in 1968, and that he dated a copy as "3.5.'72".

 

The paper dust jacket was red (now often faded to a brick-like orange) with the following on the cover: BEETON'S CHRISTMAS ANNUAL | EIGHTEEN EIGHTY-SEVEN | [picture by Frederic Dorr Steele of Holmes holding papers] || The Baker Street Irregulars, Inc. | The Sherlock Holmes Society of London.

 

References: Personal copy;  De Waal C1227;  Nick Utechin 5/17/10 e-mail to me;  Carolyn Tate 4/1/05 e-mail to me;  Steve Clarkson 11/10/01 & 11/28/02 e-mail to me;  Veld;  Blau;  Green and Gibson p. 9;  Hall;  BSJ 1960 Christmas Annual p.312;  BSJ v10 #3 (July 1960) p.188.    (Last updated 5/5/19)

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Magico Reprint of the BSI Facsimile edition (1987)

[New York]: Magico Magazine, [1987].  This hardcover centenary edition is actually a revised reprint of the BSI Beeton's Facsimile and thus contains the alterations and publisher's note from that edition.  It also includes a new introduction by Catherine Cooke and a new dust jacket designed by Scott Bond (shown here).  Like some of the BSI copies, it does not have any limitation statement.

 

The Beeton's cover reproduction is not very accurate and this is clearly visible in the yellow bleed on the corner ornaments surrounding descriptions of the other contents of the magazine.  In addition, the cover verso (back) is blank, unlike the original Beeton's and the BSI facsimile.  Instead, the Barber & Company ad from the original inside front cover appears on the following sheet.  The verso of that sheet contains the ads from the original inside back cover.  The Magico reprint does not include a reproduction of the back cover, which contained an ad for Beecham's Pills and which is present in the BSI facsimile.

 

While the Magico edition lacks some elements of the BSI facsimile, it does come in a nice hardcover binding.  Magico originally offered it at $26.50.

 

References: Personal copy;  BSM #56 (Winter 1988) pp. 42-43;  Copies viewed at University of Minnesota 10/1/05;  De Waal C1229.    (Last updated 5/5/19)

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Centenary Facsimile edition (1987/88)

[West Sussex: Conan Doyle Books; J.M. Gibson, 1987].  This softcover facsimile was produced for the story's centenary by John Michael Gibson using the Oxford Bodleian Beeton's Christmas Annual copy (R10).  It  includes the "I" in "I fancy" on page 90. 

 

Although produced for the centenary, contemporary reports indicate that it was delayed and actually published in 1988.  This facsimile was issued in a numbered red dust jacket with gilt titles along with a numbered red slipcase with gilt titles.  Of the 600 numbered copies, 50 were signed on the title page by Dame Jean Conan Doyle and issued in a finer slipcase.   The regular edition cost $49.50 (£27.50) and the signed copies cost $252 (£140).

 

This high-quality reproduction is more accurate than the BSI Facsimile edition.  In the front-matter advertising section, two pages are in color and the appropriate advertisements are on colored paper.  While it's a painstaking facsimile of the Oxford copy (R10) in most respects, that copy's original color cover is darker than usual, so the color of the facsimile cover was adjusted to look more like the cover on most of the other extant copies.  In addition, it also includes a printing statement ("Centenary Facsimile Edition printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd., Abingdon, Oxfordshire") at the bottom of page 138.

 

The regular edition slipcase limitation statement says "No. xx OF CENTENARY FACSIMILE EDITION OF 550 COPIES."  The dust jacket limitation statement appears on the inside front flap as "Centenary Facsimile Edition limited to 550 copies.  This copy is No. xx."

 

The special signed edition slipcase limitation statement says "No. xx OF SPECIAL CENTENARY FACSIMILE EDITION OF 50 COPIES."  The dust jacket limitation statement appears on the inside front flap as "Special Centenary Facsimile Edition limited to 50 copies.  This copy is No. xx."

 

Note: I am compiling a census of the special signed copies.  If you own a copy, please contact me.  I will keep your identity private at your request.

 

References: Copies viewed at University of Minnesota 10/1/05;  Rupert Books Catalogue No. 9;  De Waal C1228 (which mistakenly states that there were 550 total numbered copies);  George Vanderburgh phone call 7/4/12;  Ian Wood 8/31/05 e-mail to me;  Hugh Harrington 11/28/02 e-mail to me;  BSM #56 (Winter 1988) pp. 42-43;  SHJ v19 #1 (Winter 1988) p. 30;  Scuttlebutt Jan., Sep., Oct. 1988;  Blau.    (Last updated 5/5/19)

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Life is Amazing edition (2018)

[Portsmouth, UK]: Life is Amazing, 2018. This softcover edition is a print-on-demand version derived from the Gibson Centenary facsimile. It includes the "I" in "I fancy" on page 90.

 

This 2018 edition offers the best combination of quality and affordability for a reproduction of the very first appearance of Sherlock Holmes. It's available for £15 ($25).

 

There are three "states" reflecting minor improvements.

 

First state: Matte front cover with a somewhat dull image. Spine lettering runs from top to bottom. With an imprint page at back stating "First Edition." Out of Print. Approximately 5 copies.

 

Second state: Glossy front cover with a vibrant image, but otherwise the same as the First state. Out of Print. Approximately 150 copies.

 

Third (final) state: Glossy front cover with a vibrant image and a slightly lightened panel to the right of the seated person. The main differences from the second state include:

 

All three states come with an attached card cover like a standard trade paperback. The front cover reproduces the front of Beeton's 1887, but is blank on the inside. All the contents of the original magazine, including the recto and verso of the original front and back covers, are then reproduced within the card covers.

 

The publisher restored the front cover to more closely approximate the colors found on most copies of the original magazine.

 

Major differences between the Third state and the Gibson Centenary edition include:

 

While the Gibson edition is a more precise facsimile of the Bodleian Beeton's copy (R10), you'll often spend more than $100 to get a used one if you can even find a copy. This 2018 edition is a first-rate reproduction of Beeton's 1887 that looks great and is very affordable.

 

Availability: You can get the 2018 edition for £15 from the publisher's website, with free shipping in the UK. As of May 2019, he is selling just the third state.

 

Amazon has made this edition difficult to find, often showing or suggesting other versions of A Study in Scarlet that are not reproductions of Beeton's. As of May 2019, the best way to find the correct item on Amazon is via this Amazon US listing ($25 SRP).

 

Once on the Amazon page, you should see the Beeton's cover, the format will show "Paperback," and if you scroll down the page it should list the publisher as "Life is Amazing." While Amazon most likely has the third state, there are no guarantees.

 

References: Copy held by me (second state); Publisher e-mails to me April/May 2019. (Last updated 5/5/19)

 

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Sources & Acknowledgements

I've included an extensive list of sources related to this publication on the Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887 Checklist page.  Thank you to everyone who helped with my research, many of whom are noted on the Checklist page.

 

 

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

Topics

 

Other Rare Sherlockiana

Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887 Checklist

 

Conan Doyle manuscripts

 

Sidney Paget original artwork

 

Census of the rare first edition of "The Unique Hamlet", a Sherlock Holmes pastiche by Vincent Starrett.

 

 

And don't miss the lists of each year's best Sherlock Holmes books & DVDs, the most famous Sherlock Holmes quotes, and more Top 10 Lists.

 

 

 

Vers. 2.1bx-RN Original work
Copyright ©2019  Randall Stock. All Rights Reserved.