ABOUT THE BOOK
Arthur Conan Doyle received several rejections from other publishers
after he had written A STUDY IN SCARLET,
but in November 1886 Ward, Lock and Co. paid a grand total of £25 for the work
- no royalties.
In November the following year the novel appeared
in the 28th issue of ‘Beeton’s Christmas Annual’.
According to one of the world’s finest experts on Sherlock Holmes literature,
Catherine Cooke BSI
THE SHERLOCK HOLMES COLLECTION
WESTMINSTER LIBRARIES
Marylebone Library in London
a complete copy of ‘Beeton’s Christmas Annual for 1887’
is one of the rarest books of modern times.
It is estimated that there are only six complete copies worldwide
and relatively few incomplete ones.
The British Library’s own copy was destroyed
in bombing raids during World War II.
The fully illustrated version of A STUDY IN SCARLET by Danish artist Nis Jessen
shows the entire original text from ‘Beeton’s Christmas Annual for 1887’.
It has a foreword by the highly respected English character
actor, Edward Hardwicke,
who played Sherlock Holmes' best friend, Dr. Watson, in many films.
The introduction of this book is by Catherine Cooke BSI
at 'The Sherlock Holmes Collection' in London.
Nis Jessen spent eight years of painstaking research and work
at his drawing table with this project.
For generations to come this artwork will be a gateway
to the world of Sherlock Holmes.
A perfect collector’s item... a perfect lasting gift.
A few of the 152 pages from the book:
Read what Sherlockians wrote about Nis Jessen's artwork
Nis Jessen working in his smallest studio