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Category Archives: EMPT

Adventure of the Empty House

The 1995 Sherlock Holmes Philatelic Numismatic Covers

The 1995 Sherlock Holmes Philatelic Numismatic Covers

“Or did it come through the post?”

– The Adventure of the Reigate Squire (REIG)

In October 1993, the United Kingdom issued five different 24 pence stamps featuring Sherlock Holmes themes. In May 1995, a set of five different Philatelic – Numismatic Combination Covers (envelope with postal cancellation and a numismatic item, usually a coin) or PNC for short was developed for the British Isles Postal Covers Collection. These five covers featured one of the stamps above, one of the 1994 Gibraltar cupronickel 1 Crown coin, and the envelope would feature one of the front page illustrations of Collier’s that was illustrated by Frederic Dorr Steele.

Each of these PNCs came with the same generic presentation page that allowed storage in a four-ring binder.

There is no rhyme or reason to some of the combinations for the PNC covers, as you will soon see. We will list the PNC covers in the order of how the stamps appear above.

For this particular PNC Cover, the stamp has a Reigate Squires theme, the coin from Gibraltar features The Three Garridebs, and the design on the cover is the Collier’s magazine cover for The Golden Pince-Nez.

Our next PNC Cover, the stamp is for the Hound of the Baskerville, as is the Gibraltar crown coin. The cover design from Colliers is for Black Peter.

The third PNC Cover features The Six Napoleons as the stamp, the Sherlock Holmes profile 1 Crown coin from Gibraltar and the Collier’s cover for The Norwood Builder.

 

The fourth PNC Cover features a stamp from The Greek Interpreter,  the Gibraltar 1 crown coin with Holmes and Watson outside 221b Baker Street. The Collier’s cover was the issue that featured The Solitary Cyclist.

The fifth and final PNC Cover comes close to having a theme. Both the stamp and the Gibraltar 1 Crown coin scene is from The Final Problem. The Collier’s cover is the issue with The Empty House.

Each different PNC was limited to 2,000 consecutively-numbered envelopes.

If anyone can come up with a pattern as to how they came up with these combinations, please share in the comments below!

British Royal Mint Now Selling 2019 Sets With Sherlock Holmes Coin

British Royal Mint Now Selling 2019 Sets With Sherlock Holmes Coin

“… a work which had been specially designed to please him.” – The Sign of the Four (SIGN) On January 1, 2019, the British Royal Mint released the designs of their 2019 dated coins and began selling the annual sets to collectors. As we predicted in our earlier post about the 2019 Sherlock Holmes 50… Continue Reading

British Royal Mint to Issue Holmes 50 Pence Coins in January 2019

British Royal Mint to Issue Holmes 50 Pence Coins in January 2019

“It might be his portrait.” – The Hound of the Baskervilles (HOUN) In January 2019, the British Royal Mint will be issuing a series of 50 pence coins honoring Sherlock Holmes. Late yesterday, an image of the coin’s design was leaked and shared to the World of Coins website. Below is the proclamation authorizing these coins, as… Continue Reading

The Coins on Ronald’s Adair Desk

The Coins on Ronald’s Adair Desk

“On the table lay two bank-notes for £10 each and £17 10s. in silver and gold …” – The Adventure of The Empty House (EMPT) In The Adventure of The Final Problem, we learn of the murder of the Honourable Ronald Adair. Watson goes on to describe Adair’s fondness for cards and describes the desk where… Continue Reading

The Indian General Service Medal of Colonel Sebastian Moran

The Indian General Service Medal of Colonel Sebastian Moran

“This, gentlemen, is Colonel Sebastian Moran, once of Her Majesty’s Indian Army …” – The Adventure of The Empty House (EMPT) After the arrest of Colonel Sebastian Moran in The Final Problem, Holmes and Watson retire to 221b Baker Street. While conversing, Watson mentions that he was not familiar with the Colonel. Holmes looks through his… Continue Reading

Data! Data! Data! – The Empty House

Data! Data! Data! – The Empty House

“‘Data! Data! Data!‘ he cried impatiently. ‘I can’t make bricks without clay.’” – The Adventures of The Copper Beeches (COPP) This column is composed of material (Data!) developed for a short course called Appreciating Sherlock Holmes that I teach twice a year in the Community Education Life Enrichment Program for a local community college. It is composed… Continue Reading

Gibraltar’s 1994 The Empty House Crowns

Gibraltar’s 1994 The Empty House Crowns

“… with convulsive strength he seized Holmes by the throat; but I struck him on the head with the butt of my revolver …” – The Adventure of The Empty House (EMPT) Gibraltar released 8 different designs for its 1994 series of coins commemorating the 100th anniversary of the return of Sherlock Holmes. In this post,… Continue Reading

The 17 Steps: The Empty House

The 17 Steps: The Empty House

Seventeen thoughts for further ponderance of the case at hand – The Empty House (EMPT) JOHN H. WATSON, CRIME DOCTOR “And I even attempted, more than once, for my own private satisfaction, to employ his methods in their solution, though with indifferent success.” Without Holmes, Watson would have us believe that his entire contact with crime… Continue Reading

“Hey Pal, Can You Spare A ‘Bob’? – A Very Simplified Guide to Sherlock Holmes and Money of the Victorian Age

“Hey Pal, Can You Spare A ‘Bob’? – A Very Simplified Guide to Sherlock Holmes and Money of the Victorian Age

If anyone has experienced the thrill of a summer in Houston, Texas, you know indoor reading is one of few options left for survival. During the summer of my 14th year, as other young men were discovering their first love — fishing, or a summer job, I discovered the stories of the Canon. As I… Continue Reading

Recreating 221B

Recreating 221B

“… a single large airy sitting-room, cheerfully furnished, and illuminated by two broad windows.” – A Study In Scarlet (STUD) On Saturday, April 9, 2016, Denny Dobry, the 42nd Garrideb and his wife Joann, will be hosting an open house for interested Sherlockians to view his version of Holmes and Watson’s famous sitting room at 221B Baker… Continue Reading