Posted on Friday 6 June 2008
The complete manuscript of a Sherlock Holmes short story will be on display at the Antiquarian Book Fair today with a price tag of £250,000.
The manuscript is a 28 page edition of 'The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax', written in 1911,
which managed to survive the cursed Conan Doyle estate.
If sold, the manuscript will be the most expensive piece of Sherlock Holmes memorabilia since the original manuscript of 'The Sign of Four' that sold for $470,000 (£243,000) back in 1996.
Mark Hime purchased the manuscript from an American businessman who bought it at auction in the 1970s. He commented, "I think the price is justified, there isn't another equal manuscript out there for less, or a better one for the same price."
In May 2004 a long lost collection of Conan Doyle's notebooks, sketches and correspondence was sold by Christie's in London for nearly £1 million.
To see the manuscript, please visit The Antiquarian Book Fair, which is running today until 7.00pm and tomorrow (Saturday) from 11.00am until 6.00pm in Olympia 2 Conference & Exhibition Centre, London.
By Emma Rickman