A near-facsimile of the Conan Doyle miniature book created for the library of Queen Mary's dollhouse, with a booklet providing backstory about the dollhouse, the library, Conan Doyle, and the short story. An interesting biblio-curiosity. ( )

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle contributed his 1924 story, How Watson Learned the Trick, to Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, a 1:12 miniature that Sir Edwin Lutyens constructed for Queen Mary, the wife of King George V. The story depicts Dr. John Watson and Sherlock Holmes talking over breakfast, with Watson proposing to demonstrate that anyone may reproduce Holmes’ methods if they are observant enough. He goes through Holmes’ physical appearance, a letter he opened, and his reaction to the newspaper in order to make his case. Holmes appears supportive of Watson’s effort before he explains the true meaning of each item Watson described. In this, the story is a scenario, the type of moment that might appear at the very beginning of one of Doyle’s stories, and perfectly delightful and amusing for Sherlock Holmes fans. Like Doyle’s 1896 story, “The Field Bazaar,” this features a breakfast scenes and Watson’s efforts to reproduce Holmes’ methods. As a short, 24-page story that Doyle handwrote, it uses the third-person to best maximize available space. This edition reproduces the book as it appears in Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House complete with an informational booklet and a display box. ( )

An excellent replica reconstruction of How Watson Learned the Trick from Queen Mary's Dolls' House from the 1920s. The accompanying booklet offers an excellent and short introduction to the doll house, the miniature books, the submissions, and Arthur Conan Doyle's submission: How Watson Learned the Trick. The story is a nifty one, like 1896's "The Field Bazaar." An interesting keepsake and memento for a Holmesian/Sherlockina bookshelf. Indeed, I'd say without this you are not a true Sherlock Holmes buff or aficionado. The little replica book is nicely constructed (as far as "Printed in China" can go) and neat as all get out. The miniature book is centered in a nifty case, alongside the informational booklet, that altogether looks like a neat book and sits nice on a shelf.

[This is the replica.] ( )

An excellent replica reconstruction of How Watson Learned the Trick from Queen Mary's Dolls' House from the 1920s. This accompanying booklet offers an excellent and short introduction to the doll house, the miniature books, the submissions, and Arthur Conan Doyle's submission: How Watson Learned the Trick. The story is a nifty one, like 1896's "The Field Bazaar." An interesting keepsake and memento for a Holmesian/Sherlockina bookshelf. Indeed, I'd say without this you are not a true Sherlock Holmes buff or aficionado. The little replica book is nicely constructed (as far as "Printed in China" can go) and neat as all get out. The miniature book is centered in a nifty case, alongside the informational booklet, that altogether looks like a neat book and sits nice on a shelf.

[This is the explanation booklet.] ( )

A micro story written for Queen Mary in 1923 for the creation of the Queen's Doll's House. Watson attempts to emulate Holmes's methods, while the latter expresses admiring astonishment, only to point out that Watson's deductions are all wrong.