My Musgrave Monograph monomania - third (and final) version

This is a third updated version of my post on the Musgrave Monograph series. It includes some extra information and covers of all monographs. The first version and second version of the post can be found at the links.

The complete set

FINALLY, I've finally managed to accumulate copies of all ten Musgrave Monographs. Some of the copies were issues in limited numbers (the first was an edition of fifty, the second probably also in an edition of fifty) so there likely aren't many complete collections.

My favorite scion publications come from the Northern Musgraves. Sadly, the Musgraves wound down 15 years before I discovered Sherlockiana. There were two primary periodicals published by the Northern Musgraves. The first was a regular newsletter called "The Ritual", and the second an 'annual' titled "The Musgrave Papers". Both publications contain absolutely outstanding Sherlockian articles, and many issues can easily be purchased on sites such as eBay.

There were a number of other Northern Musgraves publications. My favorites are the "Musgrave Monograph" series. Each publication is a short monograph on a single topic. While visiting New York I was lucky enough to spot a copy of the first Monograph at Otto Penzler's Mysterious Bookshop, and have now added a photograph. I've cobbled the list below together and have not found a complete list anywhere including in Northern Musgraves publications. The Northern Musgraves publications do carry announcements and reviews of the Monographs and I'll add some of that information in the future.

The Musgrave Monograph Series.

Musgrave Monograph Number One. Pacing The Musgrave Ritual, Carol Whitlam, 1990. Fifty copies issued.

Musgrave Monograph Number Two. Diving down into the cellar : uses of photography in the canon, Matthew Booth, 1991. This cover image was designed by Kathryn White (one of the co-presidents/founders of The Northern Musgraves).

Musgrave Monograph Number Three. "Ready when you are, Mr. Rathbone" : a review of the Universal Holmes films, Roger Johnson, 1995.

Musgrave Monograph Number Four. 'I looked in at Mecca ...': an insight into Sherlock Holmes' visit to Mecca, Anne Jordan, 1993. Reviewed in 'The Ritual' No 12 (Autumn 1993): "Anne divides her monograph into two sections: why Holmes might have wanted to visit Mecca, and, having arrived there, what he would have discovered... maps and illustrations are included in the text".

Musgrave Monograph Number Five. 140 different varieties : a review of tobacco in the Canon, John Hall, 1994. Reviewed in 'The Ritual' No 14 (Autumn 1994): "John Hall has managed to pull together all references to smoking, tobacco and other related topics in the Canon with consumate skill... there is also background information about the social attitudes to and practice of smoking, along with sections on Holmes the smoker, Matches, Snuff, Transport and Storage. 

Musgrave Monograph Number Six. The Misadventure of the Sherlock Holmes Pilot. An account of the making of the first pilot film for a Sherlock Holmes television series. Richard Launcelyn Green. 

Musgrave Monograph Number Seven. Some knowledge of Baritsu: An investigation of the Japanese system of wrestling used by Sherlock Holmes, Hirayama Yuichi and John Hall, 1996. Reviewed in 'The Ritual' No 19 (Spring 1997): "Two leading Sherlockian writers.... review the various fighting techniques of jujitsu, bujutsu, aikido, sumo, bartitsu, and judo, and the influence of Japanese wrestling in Victorian London.... The monograph begins with a consideration of the possibility that Holmes may have visited Japan".

Musgrave Monograph Number Eight. Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle and the British Empire : an investigation into Conan Doyle's links with the British Empire as expressed through his Sherlockian and other literature, Jeffrey Richards, 1997.

Musgrave Monograph Number Nine. 221 BBC : writing for the world's first complete dramatised canon : (with some observations upon previous radio appearances of Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson), Bert Coules, 1998. Reviewed in 'The Ritual' No 23 (Spring 1999): "His account begins with a thoughtful analysis of the radio careers of Holmes and Watson both in Britain and America up to the time of his own involvement. This began in 1987... Coules proceeds to give us a revealing and instructive insight into the making of radio plays."

Musgrave Monograph Number Ten. The somnambulist and the detective : Vincent Starrett and Sherlock Holmes, Susan Rice, 2000. Reviewed in 'The Ritual' No 27 (Spring 2001): "Rice has provided a fine overview of {Starrett's} five major Sherlockian works.... there are also assessments of Starrett's involvement in Chicago scions.... the monograph is rounded off by a comprehensive, if not exhaustive, Starrett bibliography".

NOT A MONOGRAPH

I'll also add a few publications here from Musgrave Monographs that are also chapbooks, but turn out to be one-off publications, rather than part of the 'Musgrave Monograph' series.

Sherlock Holmes and the Shadow of the Wolf. Ron Weighell, 1992. This is a pastiche, rather than a Sherlockian study. From Wikipedia: "In 1992, the Northern Musgraves... invited Weighell to produce a story for their ‘Aspects of Holmes’ weekend. The positive reception of The Shadow of the Wolf, read out at the society's annual dinner." I've written a separate post on this edition.

NOT A MONOGRAPH

{No picture of cover found}

Guilty of several monographs : the published writings of Mr. Sherlock Holmes. John Hall, 1996. Given that other number is accounted for, it is possible this title was not part of the Monograph series.

A little piece of Brettian memorabilia or two

Looking at my blog I'm amazed that I haven't really every posted about the Granada series, Jeremy Brett, etc. I'm hugely enjoy the Jeremy Brett podcast series, and have a small collection of Granada-related 'things', some more... recherche than others.

So I thought I'd highlight two here - one I picked up today, one I acquired recently that's a bit special.

The first item I came across accidentally. I've written elsewhere how much I enjoy the writings of members of the Northern Musgraves ; based in the north of England and founded by David Stuart Davies and Kathryn White. They published delightful monographs, as well as two different regular journals of articles, with outstanding content. 

In looking for Musgraves papers I came across this 32-page booklet titled 'A Musgrave Tribute to Edward Hardwicke 7 August 1932-16 May 2011'.

The tribute is apt given that Hardwicke was an honorary member of the Northern Musgraves. The booklet includes a short biography, followed by articles including reflections or memories by the following:

- Owen Dudley Edwards ('Edward Cedric Hardwicke')

- David Stuart Davies ('Goodbye, Watson')

- Roger Llewellyn (' An Actor Remembers Edward Hardwicke')

- Bert Coules ('Consumate professional and staunch friend')

- Lynda Henderson ('Edward Hardwicke remembered by...')

- Keith Frankel ('Tribute to Hardwicke's Watson')

- Allison E Smith ('Edward Hardwicke: Television Actor')

- John Addy ('Thoughts on Edward Hardwicke')

 

This is a delightful little book. Tucked inside is a membership form, including an introduction. In reading it learnt something of the recent history of the Northern Musgraves:

We were originally formed as The Northern Musgraves in 1988, but from 2004 we have been known simply as The Musgraves.

I wonder why the name changed. I do know that around the early 2000s the journals - called 'The Musgrave Papers' and 'The Ritual' ceased publication. It's great to know the society lived on for so much longer (at least 2011) and possibly beyond.

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The second item is fun.

The Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast recently covered the stage play written by Jeremy Paul, and starring Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke. 

At around the same I managed to purchased a copy of the Jeremy Paul published script. This one is great - it is signed on the title page by Jeremy, Edward, and the author Jeremy Paul. It was owned by a member of the Northern Musgraves who had a chance to have the book signed at the play in Manchester.

As another quaint aside, the signed copy has the orange cover. That was published in 1989, but there's also a green cover version, that is the 1991 reprint. Why the change of color on the cover? 

 There is also a third edition, published by Players Press in 1996 which I do not have..... YET: