Description:

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
n.p., n.d.
A.C. Doyle PSA Certified ALS Re: 2 London Landmarks, Incl. Morley's Hotel, Where "The Hound of the Baskervilles" Was Partly Written
ALS

A 1p autograph letter signed by British writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) as "A Conan Doyle" near the bottom. N.d., n.p. On a leaf of stationery with cancelled letterhead - "Schoolhouse / Shelborne / Dorset" - at upper right. Encapsulated and PSA/DNA certified authentic. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds, and a former collector's pencil inscription at upper left. Mounting traces only visible verso. The letter measures 4.375" x 7" and the slab measures 6.625" x 10.125". Provenance: Ex-Kingston Galleries, 1967.

Doyle wrote this note to an unidentified correspondent named "Mrs. Oldham," in full:

"Dear Mrs. Oldham,

I was stupid to leave out the letter. I now enclose it [not included in this lot.] I shall be as glad to see you both at Morley's on Tuesday. We will go across to the Cecil for lunch.

Yours very truly

A Conan Doyle."

In this letter, Doyle refers to two turn-of-the-century London landmarks, both hotels either adjacent to or proximate to Trafalgar Square. "Morley's" referred to Morley's Hotel, first opened in 1832, whose multi-storey stone façade extended down the entire eastern side of Trafalgar Square, behind Nelson's Column and the Trafalgar Square Fountain. Doyle is said to have stayed at Morley's in 1900, there writing portions of what would become "The Hound of the Baskervilles." The short story serialized in "The Strand Magazine" between August 1901 and April 1902 would later be published in book form, and continued the Sherlock Holmes story after a lengthy hiatus.

"The Cecil" referred to dining facilities at the Hotel Cecil, a luxurious accomodation which operated between its opening in 1896 and its demolition in the early 1930s. The Hotel Cecil was located just a couple of blocks up the Strand facing the Thames Embankment, and this is what Doyle meant when he wrote "we will go across to the Cecil." Doyle is known to have attended an annual meeting of the Incorporated Society of Authors at the Hotel Cecil in 1904.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is best remembered for creating Sherlock Holmes, a character whom he revisited many times, but he also wrote many other works, including short stories, ghost stories, plays, poetry, and historical romances.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: slabbed: 6.625" x 10.125"
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

October 8, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000