The Final Problem

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Introduction
Conan Doyle’s 1891 attempt to kill his hero off! This short story, appearing in Strand magazine in 1893, is No 2 of Illustrated Sherlock. No 1, The Hound of the Baskervilles, was part of The Return of Sherlock - after public pressure. He had only pretended to be dead! You can see him just clinging onto the rock here ... The table in Mrs Hudson’s parlour window is also set for tea.

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Hazle Ceramics
The Final Problem Limited Painting of 20
on London Sherlock

 One of a set of five Sherlock stamps by the Royal Mail in 1993.

20th Anniversary 2010
Illustrated Sherlock No 2
Painted by Carol Whaley

 ITV image with Jeremy Brett as a mesmerising Sherlock and Eric Porter as intense, evil Moriarty.

Elements of The Plot
Escaping three murder attempts in one day by crime gang leader Professor Moriarty, Holmes and Dr Watson flee to Switzerland. Despite precautions, Moriarty is close on their trail. The pair visit Reichenbach Falls where a boy hands Watson a note about an Englishwoman at their hotel needing a doctor. This is a hoax. He rushes back to the Falls to find a letter from Sherlock, who is about to fight Moriarty. Signs of a violent struggle and a lack of returning footprints indicate both have fallen to their deaths.

UK/Europe £84.50
Rest of World £73.48

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 Swiss town Meiringen has a London-styled sign by its Holmes Museum in a former English Church, plus a bronze statue. 
Far right: Reichenbach Falls outside the town. 