Sherlock Holmes, the famous fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, has featured in no less than fifty six short stories and four novels by the author, set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The stories first appeared in the Strand Magazine over a period of forty years. Since then they have been published on an international scale. By 1964 worldwide sales were second only to the Bible.

The enigmatic, eccentric character of Holmes has been portrayed by more actors than any other character. All of them, however, seem to embrace the unique appearance by wearing a deerstalker hat and elaborate pipe.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum is based at 221b Baker Street, London - the location of Holmes' office as described by Conan Doyle. The first floor study is kept as it was in Victorian times.

The stamp below was released in October 1993 as part of of the Sherlock Holmes, Centenary of The Publication of 'The Final Problem' issue.

Illustration

Sherlock Holmes & Dr Watson stamp