The Hound of the Baskervilles – 1902 First Edition, 4th Impression Grosset & Dunlap | Originally copyrighted by George Newnes Conan Doyle 4th Impression George Newnes...
This is a well-loved 1902 first edition, 4th impression of The Hound of the Baskervilles by A. Conan Doyle—a book that still sends shivers down my spine every time I pick it up. The spine shows some wear at the top and bottom (as any seasoned sleuth would after a century of cases), and the front hinge is broken, giving it that telltale charm of a true antique. Two loose bookplates are tucked inside the cover, hinting at the past lives this book has lived.
As a graphic designer, Sherlock Holmes has followed me through many creative projects, especially with the character’s renaissance in pop culture. Right now, I’m deep in the process of illustrating my own edition of The Hound of the Baskervilles, and I can honestly say—this one hits differently.
Unlike Doyle’s usual puzzles grounded in cold logic, this tale tempts the imagination with something darker: a supernatural hound, an ancient curse, and a desolate moor that feels alive with dread. Critics have taken issue with its flirtation with superstition, but I think that’s exactly what makes it fascinating. The philosopher in me sees it as a meditation on the limits of reason. What happens when intellect meets folklore? When human fear clouds empirical truth?
I haven’t yet read the full canon, but to me, The Hound of the Baskervilles is a classic for a reason. It doesn’t just solve a crime—it lingers in the shadows, questioning the very tools we use to understand the world.
