A Scion Society of The Baker Street Irregulars
Numismatists Do Not Fear Change
“We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources, and borrowed, for that purpose, thirty thousand Napoleons from the Bank of France.” – The Red-Headed League (REDH) In this month’s story of The Red-Headed League, the City & Suburban Bank had increased their reserves by borrowing 30,000 gold Napoleons from the Bank of France. In… Continue Reading
“It is our French gold …” – The Red Headed League (REDH) Your editor has a fondness for Old Time Radio and from time to time, we are able to share recording of some of the older Sherlock Holmes radios that have a tie-in to numismatics. On October 19, 1954 the BBC broadcasted The Case of the… Continue Reading
“At last, I can put my cards on the table.” – The Valley of Fear (VALL) A 50 unit phone card for the Sapporo Snow & Ice Festival Many of the visitors to this website probably recall the days when pay phones were a common site when walking down a city sidewalk or inside a… Continue Reading
“Here was a case of ancient coins.” – The Adventure of the Three Garridebs (3GAR) One of our group’s earliest goals was to attempt to track down coins from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s personal coin collection. We were able to locate a price list that Manfra, Tordella & Brookes produced in 1968 of Doyle’s ancient… Continue Reading
“I grudge Altamont nothing.” – His Last Bow (LAST) On October 23, 1978, the group Altamont’s Agents was formed in Albany, New York, meeting at a pub that was named Holmes and Watson, Ltd. This group would go on to be recognized as a scion of the Baker Street Irregulars. In 1989,… Continue Reading
“Mr. Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!’” – The Hound of the Baskervilles (HOUN) Back in 1992, the Original Hobo Nickel Society was formed to promote the collecting of engraved buffalo nickels that had been produced prior to 1980. Most of these “original” nickels were engraved with nails, knifes, files and perhaps some punches.… Continue Reading
“You are an early bird …” – The Valley of Fear (VALL) In 1982, two professors at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania — Fred Saules and Frank Vacante — organized a group of 18 Sherlockians to form a new BSI scion, Boss McGinty’s Bird Watchers. The group takes its name from the final Sherlock Holmes novel, The… Continue Reading
“… one who had been a whaler.” – The Adventure of Black Peteri (BLAC) Earlier this month, listings for a fantasy 10 pound Scottish banknote featuring Arthur Conan Doyle began appearing on some of the major online auction services. The front of the note features a left-facing portrait of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In the background, appears… Continue Reading
“Here is the forged cheque …” – The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone (MAZA) We’ve shared a few installments of Sherlocko The Monk, a comic strip drawn by Gus Mager from 1910 to 1913 in the Hearst newspapers of the era. We are pleased to share another of these comic strips, The Case of the $10,000 Cheque, that was… Continue Reading
“The story has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers …” – The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb (ENGR) When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had his stories published that would make up the Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, the stories were first printed in the United States in Colliers Weekly and in the Strand Magazine for the United Kingdom.… Continue Reading