DOYLE, Arthur Conan (1859-1930). The Captain of the Polestar and Other Tales. London and New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1890. 8vo. 315 pp. Half-title and 16pp. publisher's ads at end. Publisher's full dark blue cloth over beveled boards, front board and spine lettered in gilt. FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, ONE OF 750 COPIES OF THIS COLLECTION OF SUPERNATURAL STORIES that were "sold out on the very first day". In a later issue prepared during the same month, the publisher's catalogue was dated on p. 12 and p. 16. "Of the stories collected in the volume, 'J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement' on the mystery of the Mary Celeste is the most notable. It was among the first of the author's stories to be accepted by an important magazine [in Cornhill Magazine]" (Green and Gibson A5a). 

Spine toned, edgeworn with several short tears, rear joint torn, corners somewhat worn, rear hinge starting, ffep. with crease near fore-edge, bookseller's ticket on fp., a few gutters over-opened, skewed. Good.