"The Return Of Sherlock Holmes" --- The Adventure Of The Empty House In The Strand Magazine, October, 1903

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

Publication: George Newnes, Ltd, 1903, London

First edition. 8vo. Story appears in The Stand Magazine, Vol. XXVI, No. 154, October, 1903. Pictorial wrappers, i - lxxx (advertisements), 363 -480 pp., lxxxi - lxxxviii (advertisements), plus 2 pp. tipped in advertisements, plus 14 pp. advertisements laid in loose, double column. Illustrated with black & white drawings. Sherlock Holmes adventure appears on pages 362 - 376 and is illustrated in black & white with seven drawings by Sidney Paget. Ronald Adair was found murdered in his home. He'd been shot in a closed room, with no possible exit through the windows. Adair was a quiet young man. His only hobby was playing cards, and he'd just had won £240 with his new partner, Colonel Sebastian Moran. Watson attempts to solve the crime but to no avail. One day while he's examining the area around Adair's house, Watson bumps into an old man who eventually reveals himself to be Holmes. Watson is very shocked to see Holmes alive as he thought he was dead (The Adventure of the Final Problem). Holmes explains that he'd never fallen at Reichenbach but had taken advantage of his "official death" to track down Moriarty's accomplices around the world. Holmes returned to London when he heard about the Adair case because Moran was Moriarty's lieutenant. Sherlock is well-aware that Moran knows the he's indeed alive and so, intends to kill him. Holmes places a wax bust of himself in the window of 221B Baker Street to act as a decoy. He then takes Watson to an empty house from where they can keep an eye on the bust. While Holmes and Watson wait, Moran enters the room without seeing the two men hiding in the dark and shoots the bust. Watson knocks him down as Holmes calls Lestrade to arrest him. The detective explains to Lestrade that Moran also killed Adair, who had caught him cheating at cards and threatened to denounce him. A rare complete copy, with tipped in and laid in advertisements, of the resurrections of Sherlock Holmes in "The Adventure of the Empty House," the first of the stories of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes" after his death, or apparent death, ten years earlier in the story "The Final Problem." Copies of the stories in wrappers, especially for the Return issues, are not common, much less so with the original laid in and bound in advertisements. Includes: two bound-in advertisements: the color card "Use Lux" after p. lxxx and the four page ad for "The Standard Life Assurance Company," before the rear wrapper; and eleven laid in advertising sheets including the elusive broadsheet for "The Return of Sherlock Holmes ... in the October Number" with the announcement of the "Gold in Waiting" treasure hunt story on the verso, itself a knockoff of Holmes and Watson. Plus: 1). The Ceramic Art Co. Ltd. Crown Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent, Tea and Coffee Service. 2). The Geo R. Sims Hair Restorer Tatcho. Two Coupons for trial bottle. 3). Genuine Steel Plate Engravings. A free Gift of a Charming Miniature on Porcelain. 4). Sanatogen. The Most Powerful Nerve Stimulant and Restorative. Mail-in to receive informational pamphlet. 5). The Lineel Co. Ltd., cures all aches and pains. Free bottle. (Next Page Koko for the Hair trial bottle). 6). "His Girl" Albert Hildesheimer. 12 Pictures in color offer. 7). Dartring 'Lanoline.' Personal care product listings of eight trademark preparations. 8). The Wide World Magazine. Facsimile of November cover and excerpt from short story "Buried Alive in St. Pierre." 9). Horlick's Malted Mile. "Always up to the Standard" color ad. 10). Mr. B. Beasley "To Stammerers Young and Old" Testimonials for speech impediment services. The broadside that announces "The Return Of Sherlock Holmes" is lightly tanned at the edges, else in fine condition. Minor edgewear to the wrappers, a few tiny tears along lower portion of the spine, page edges lightly tanned, front cover has a small tear that is expertly repaired on the verso, contents are bright and clean except for a few leaves that are offset, where advertisements were laid-in. A desirable copy of an uncommon title.

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