DOYLE, A. CONAN — The Return of Sherlock Holmes

New York, NY: McClure, Phillips & Co, 1905. 1st Edition; 1st Printing. Hardcover. Illustrated by Charles Raymond Macauley. B&W Illustrations; This the true First Edition (published a month before the UK edition) . The book is in Very Good- condition and is lacking a dust jacket. The book is in generally clean, bright condition. The spine ends and corners of the book covers have some light bumping, rubbing and wear. The lettering on the spine of the book is mostly rubbed away, and there is some light fading to the spine as well. The front cover has red lettering and a yellow background to an embossed window. There is rubbing to the yellow coloring. The text pages are clean and bright. Both the front and rear endpapers have, at some point, been repaired with glue that's left the pages stuck a bit to the front and rear pastedown pages. The front pastedown page has a previous owner's inked name and address, along with a number (possibly a personal library number). The text includes 13 black and white full page illustrations by Charles Raymond Macauley. "The book was first published in February 1905 by McClure, Phillips & Co. (New York) , then on 7 March 1905 by Georges Newnes, Ltd. (London) It was the first Holmes collection since 1893, when Holmes had "died" in "The Final Problem". Having published The Hound of the Baskervilles, set before Holmes's "death", in 1901–1902, Doyle had come under intense pressure to revive the character. The first story, set in 1894, has Holmes returning in London and explaining the period from 1891–1894. Also of note is Watson's statement in the last story in the book that Holmes has retired and has forbidden him to publish any more stories (although again, two more collections and a novel appeared later). " (from Wikipedia). Very Good- .