Sir Arthur Conan Doyle The Authors Edition in a 12 Vol. Set Signed

Offering the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Author's Edition in a 12 volume set number 587 of 1000. This is signed Arthur Conan Doyle, published by John Murray in 1903/1917. Rebound by Whitman Bennett in beautiful blue leather and marbled paper. 

Vol. 1  The White Company, Signed by Arthur Conan Doyle on the limitation page.

Vol. 2  Micah Clarke

Vol. 3  The Refugees

Vol. 4  Rodney Stone

Vol. 5  Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Vol. 6  The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

Vol. 7  A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four

Vol. 8  The Great Shadow and Uncle Bernac

Vol. 9   A Duet, with an Occasional Chorus

Vol. 10 Tragedy of the Korsko and The Green Flag

Vol. 11 The Stark Munro Letters and Round the Red Lamp

Vol. 12 The Exploits of Brigadier Gerad   

In Vol. 1 on the 1st page in the top left corner it says Bound for Stewart Kidd by Whitman Bennett. Below is the info on Bennett.

Whitman Bennett, a writer, a former movie producer and a former dealer in rare American books and fine bindings, died Wednesday in French Hospital. He was 84 years old and lived at the Wellington Hotel.

Mr. Bennett retired in 1960 as proprietor of the Bennett Book Studios and Bindery on West 57th Street, dealers in rare American books and fine bindings.

A little history:  the Author's Edition was a joint publishing veture between D. Appleton in NY and the London firm of Smith, Elder & Co. 510 set were bound by Smith, Elder, the remaining 490 quires were passed to John Murray when the company was sold, they were reissued with the new title pages and dated 1903 in and after 1917. The author considered this edition of this works to be of gret importance, he revised parts and added notes and a number of special introductions. 

Because of the author's friendship with Reginald Smith, he agreed to sign the thousand copies of the English issue. He was not howerever prepared to do the same for the American publisher, though he was asked. He made it known that he would only consider doing so for a considerable fee. The English issue also has the further attaction of having two illustrations in each volume rather than one. 

I am not a book expert, I dont know the right word to describe the types of pages or bindings.I purchased these from the family of Kidd who had these rebound about 90-100 years ago. I have a small antiques shop in Inverness, Florida which has been a retirement community since the 40's.

Please ask any questions and I will do my best to answer or send additional pictures.