Only handwritten draft of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's second Sherlock Holmes novel ... trends now
The only handwritten draft of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's second Sherlock Holmes novel is set to fetch nearly £1million at auction.
The 'exceptionally rare' 1889 manuscript of The Sign of Four is estimated to sell for up to $1.2 million (£949,000) as part of an auction held in New York by Sotheby's during their book week in June.
The British author signed the item twice and it also contains edits to 'Americanise' the text prior to publication in the US.
It will be offered alongside a collection of letters between Sir Arthur and JM Stoddart -the editor of Lippincott's Monthly Magazine in which The Sign Of Four first appeared.
The letters chronicle the book's progression, including details of deliberations over the title and the author's happiness with the printing and illustrations.
The only handwritten draft of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's second Sherlock Holmes novel is set to fetch nearly £1million at auction. The 'exceptionally rare' 1889 manuscript of The Sign of Four is estimated to sell for up to $1.2 million (£949,000) as part of an auction held in New York by Sotheby's during their book week in June
The British author signed the item twice and it also contains edits to 'Americanise' the text prior to publication in the US
Richard Austin, Sotheby's global head of books and manuscripts, said the item is an important historical treasure.
He said: 'The autograph manuscript of Conan Doyle's iconic work, "The Sign of Four," is an exceptionally rare piece of literary history, offering a unique glimpse into Doyle's writing process.
'Complemented by a collection of intimate letters exchanged between Doyle and his publisher, J. M. Stoddart, the ensemble provides a rich tapestry of insight into the preparation of Holmes for an American audience, cementing his legacy in the pantheon of
