“The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist”

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Title

“The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist”

Date

1904

Subject

Original holograph manuscript

Description

The manuscript of “The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist” is stunning. Within the plain vellum binding that Conan Doyle commissioned from Spealls are two preserved Paragon Exercise Books with the handwritten story, their original decorated wrappers intact. Inscriptions abound, as do copious revisions. Conan Doyle made some 70 changes to his manuscript which, among other things, gave the story a new title (with “Cyclist” replacing the crossed-out word “Man”) and the villain a new name (with “Woodley” replacing “Murphy”).

Format

Two notebooks bound in plain vellum over boards, 8 × 6¼ in