Lot 1324 , The Strand Magazine: an illustrated monthly ... vols. 1-XX and vol. XXVII. many illus. throughout (num. full page); publisher's Cambridge blue pictorial cloth with gilt spines, roy.8vo. George Newnes, 1891-1900 and 1904.

° The Strand Magazine: an illustrated monthly ... vols. 1-XX and vol. XXVII. many illus. throughout (num. full page); publisher's Cambridge blue pictorial cloth with gilt spines, roy.8vo. George Newnes, 1891-1900 and 1904. *included many first appearances of Conan Doyle's soon to be famous Sherlock Holmes stories; the second and third volumes featured 'A Scandal in Bohemia', 'The Speckled Band', and ten others; whilst volumes four and five included 'Silver Blaze', 'The Musgrave Ritual' and a further ten others - all with Sidney Paget's illustrations. Together, published as books, these formed 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' (1892) and 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes' (1893). Volume 27 contributed 'The Solitary Cyclist', 'Charles Augustus Milverton', and four others - being part of 'The Return of Sherlock Holmes' (1905). The second story in vol.4 (The Cardboard Box) was not included in the published volume. Although well-known authors such as Gissing, Hornung, Wells and Arthur Morrison also contributed, it was the exploits of the Great Detective which gave the magazine its deserved élan (and a startling rise in circulation figures)
£400-600

Condition:
vols.1-20, gen. good/vg. cond., some e/ps. browned, 3 or 4 vols. rubbed/sl. wear spine heads, vol. 3 inner joint cracked, vol.19 - both inner cracked and spine lt. marked; vol.27 covers lt. marked, sl. wear head/tail spine. The famous upper cover shows the busy Strand at its junction with Southampton Street (for the publisher's offices). Green & Gibson A10 and A14. Volumes 8,15-20 and 27 have plain edges; remainder are red sprinkled, general browning on most.