DOYLE ARTHUR CONAN Autograph Letter Signed A Conan Doyle to

Sale 2376 - Lot 184

Price Realized: $ 3,250

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600

TERMS FOR "A DUET" DOYLE, ARTHUR CONAN. Autograph Letter Signed, "A Conan Doyle," to publisher Grant Richards, laying out the terms for publication of his forthcoming book, A Duet. 2 pages, 8vo, "Undershaw" stationery; moderate marginal discoloration from prior matting, faint scattered foxing. Hindhead, Surrey, circa 1899

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"The only valid reason I can ever give a publisher for quitting him is that I can get better terms. So if I come to you with 'A Duet' my terms must be high. . . .
"1. No advance.
"2. Half yearly accounts.
"3. Two shillings per copy on 6/ book.
"4. Your guarantee to fairly spend £100 in advertising.
"5. The form to be such as I approve.
". . . I propose to sacrifice the serial rights of this book and bring it out at once in book form. This will in itself be an interesting experiment & should, I believe, help the sale of the book materially. . . .
"The book . . . should be ready for appearance early in March. . . .
"I am on very friendly terms with Smith and must return to him, so don't be hurt when I do so with my next book. The fact is that this book ought to be published by a young married couple and so I give you the refusal of it. . . ."