THE EXPLOITS OF BRIGADIER GERARD

1896. Wollen, W. B.. With Twenty-Four Illustrations, by W.B. Wollen, R.I. London: George Newnes, 1896. 8 pp ads dated "10.2.96." Original red cloth decorated in black.

First Edition of these eight adventures of the Napoleonic soldier Etienne Gerard (to be followed in 1903 with eight more, titled ADVENTURES OF GERARD). The stories ran monthly in the Strand, to be followed by publication in book form -- just like the Sherlock Holmes tales. Now that Doyle had (apparently) killed off Sherlock Holmes, he turned his storytelling efforts to the brigadier with his often-comic bravado. Doyle was very fond of him, and was proud of the preciseness of (truncated) detail with which Gerard and his time were described. Alas for Doyle, the public wanted more Sherlock, not Gerard -- so Doyle grudgingly resurrected Holmes (temporarily in 1902 with THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, and then for good in 1905 with the first case in THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES). This copy has what we consider the "primary" ads, dated just five days before publication (February 15th); some copies have leftover ad catalogues dated "30.11.95," and later copies have ads dated as late as 1898. This is a near-fine copy (faint string-indents on the front board, but otherwise very little soil or wear; the spine is less faded than is typical for this red cloth); there is a January 1897 signature on the front free endpaper. Green & Gibson A19a. (Inventory #: 15721)