The Sherlock Holmes Canon
Introduction
Despite the appearance from time to time of what their authors suggest are previously
undiscovered cases that Holmes was involved in, it is to the original cases that you should first
turn to understand the Great Detective’s singular talents.
These 56 short stories and 4 novels are usually referred to as “The Canon”.
This pamphlet lists the Canon, sorted in four different ways.
1
In Order of their Publication in The Strand
The 60 stories are listed in order of their first publication in The Strand Magazine although the
first two stories, A Study In Scarlet and The Sign of Four, were published by Ward Lock & Co in
Beeton’s Christmas Annual and Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine respectively. The latter has the
original five word title of the story “The Sign of the Four”.
2
In Order of their Publication in the Collected Editions
The Canon can be found in many forms.
1.
The Complete Sherlock Holmes comprising all 60 stories.
2.
The Four Long Stories (STUD, SIGN, HOUN and VALL).
3.
The 56 Short Stories.
4.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (SCAN, REDH, IDEN, BOSC, FIVE, TWIS,
BLUE, SPEC, ENGR, NOBL, BERY and COPP).
5.
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (SILV, YELL, STOC, GLOR, MUSG, REIG,
CROO, RESI, GREE, NAVA and FINA).
6.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes (EMPT, NORW, DANC, SOLI, PRIO, BLACK,
CHAS, SIXN, 3STU, GOLD, MISS, ABBE and SECO).
7.
His Last Bow (WIST, CARD, REDC, BRUC, DYIN, LADY, DEVI and LAST).
8.
The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (ILLU, BLAN, MAZA, 3GAB, SUSS, 3GAR,
THOR, CREE, LION, VEIL, SHOS, RETI).
The Cardboard Box CARD, although published in The Strand Magazine between Silver Blaze
SILV and The Yellow Face YELL was not published in the Memoirs but 24 years later in His Last
Bow.
This list presents the stories in the order of their first publication in the collected editions,
punctuated by the individual novels.
3
In Order of their Occurrence
For those wanting to read the stories in the order they occurred, this list (based on Vincent
Delay’s book) presents them in chronological order.
V1 ©2011 John H Watson MD
JohnHWatsonMD.com
Page 1
The Sherlock Holmes Canon
4
In Order of their Abbreviations
Finally, the 60 stories are presented in the order of their Abbreviation (according to J Finley
Christ).
V1 ©2011 John H Watson MD
JohnHWatsonMD.com
Page 2
The Sherlock Holmes Canon
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
The Sherlock Holmes Canon – In Order of Publication in The Strand
Title
Abbrev
Date of Publication
A Study in Scarlet
STUD
Dec 1887
The Sign of Four
SIGN
Feb 1890
A Scandal in Bohemia
SCAN
Jul 1891
The Red-Headed League
REDH
Aug 1891
A Case of Identity
IDEN
Sep 1891
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
BOSC
Oct 1891
The Five Orange Pips
FIVE
Nov 1891
The Man with the Twisted Lip
TWIS
Dec 1891
The Adventure of The Blue Carbuncle
BLUE
Jan 1892
The Adventure of The Speckled Band
SPEC
Feb 1892
The Adventure of The Engineer’s Thumb
ENGR
Mar 1892
The Adventure of The Noble Bachelor
NOBL
Apr 1892
The Adventure of The Beryl Coronet
BERY
May 1892
The Adventure of The Copper Beeches
COPP
Jun 1892
The Adventure of Silver Blaze
SILV
Dec 1892
The Adventure of The Cardboard Box
CARD
Jan 1893
The Adventure of The Yellow Face
YELL
Feb 1893
The Adventure of The Stockbroker’s Clerk
STOC
Mar 1893
The Adventure of The Gloria Scott
GLOR
Apr 1893
The Adventure of The Musgrave Ritual
MUSG
May 1893
The Adventure of The Reigate Squire
REIG
Jun 1893
The Adventure of The Crooked Man
CROO
Jul 1893
The Adventure of The Resident Patient
RESI
Aug 1893
The Adventure of The Greek Interpreter
GREE
Sep 1893
The Adventure of The Naval Treaty
NAVA
Oct-Nov 1893
The Adventure of The Final Problem
FINA
Dec 1893
The Hound of the Baskervilles
HOUN
Aug 1901-Apr 1902
The Adventure of The Empty House
EMPT
Sep 1903
The Adventure of The Norwood Builder
NORW
Oct 1903
The Adventure of The Dancing Men
DANC
Dec 1903
The Adventure of The Solitary Cyclist
SOLI
Dec 1903
The Adventure of The Priory School
PRIO
Jan 1904
The Adventure of Black Peter
BLAC
Feb 1904
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
CHAS
Mar 1904
The Adventure of The Six Napoleons
SIXN
Apr 1904
The Adventure of The Three Students
3STU
Jun 1904
The Adventure of The Golden Pince-Nez
GOLD
Jul 1904
The Adventure of The Missing Three-Quarter
MISS
Aug 1904
V1 ©2011 John H Watson MD
JohnHWatsonMD.com
Page 3
The Sherlock Holmes Canon
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
The Sherlock Holmes Canon – In Order of Publication in The Strand
Title
Abbrev
Date of Publication
The Adventure of The Abbey Grange
ABBE
Sep 1904
The Adventure of The Second Stain
SECO
Dec 1904
Wisteria Lodge
WIST
Aug 1908
The Adventure of The Bruce-Partington Plans
BRUC
Dec 1908
The Adventure of The Devil’s Foot
DEVI
Dec 1910
The Adventure of The Red Circle
REDC
Mar-Apr 1911
The Adventure of The Disappearance of Lady
LADY
Dec 1911
Frances Carfax
The Adventure of The Dying Detective
DYIN
Nov 1913
The Valley of Fear
VALL
Sep 1914-May 1915
His Last Bow
LAST
Sep 1917
The Adventure of The Mazarin Stone
MAZA
Oct 1921
The Problem of Thor Bridge
THOR
Feb 1922
The Adventure of The Creeping Man
CREE
Mar 1923
The Adventure of The Sussex Vampire
SUSS
Jan 1924
The Adventure of The Three Garridebs
3GAR
Oct 1924
The Adventure of The Illustrious Client
ILLU
Nov 1924
The Adventure of The Three Gables
3GAB
Sep 1926
The Adventure of The Blanched Soldier
BLAN
Oct 1926
The Adventure of The Lion’s Mane
LION
Nov 1926
The Adventure of The Retired Colourman
RETI
Dec 1926
The Adventure of The Veiled Lodger
VEIL
Jan 1927
The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place
SHOS
Mar 1927
V1 ©2011 John H Watson MD
JohnHWatsonMD.com
Page 4
The Sherlock Holmes Canon
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
The Sherlock Holmes Canon – In Order of Publication in The Collections
Title
Abbrev
A Study in Scarlet
STUD
The Sign of Four
SIGN
A Scandal in Bohemia
SCAN
The Red-Headed League
REDH
A Case of Identity
IDEN
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
BOSC
The
The Five Orange Pips
FIVE
Adventures
The Man with the Twisted Lip
TWIS
of
The Adventure of The Blue Carbuncle
BLUE
Sherlock
The Adventure of The Speckled Band
SPEC
Holmes
The Adventure of The Engineer’s Thumb
ENGR
The Adventure of The Noble Bachelor
NOBL
The Adventure of The Beryl Coronet
BERY
The Adventure of The Copper Beeches
COPP
The Adventure of Silver Blaze
SILV
The Adventure of The Yellow Face
YELL
The Adventure of The Stockbroker’s Clerk
STOC
The Adventure of The Gloria Scott
GLOR
The
The Adventure of The Musgrave Ritual
MUSG
Memoirs
of
The Adventure of The Reigate Squire
REIG
Sherlock
The Adventure of The Crooked Man
CROO
Holmes
The Adventure of The Resident Patient
RESI
The Adventure of The Greek Interpreter
GREE
The Adventure of The Naval Treaty
NAVA
The Adventure of The Final Problem
FINA
The Hound of the Baskervilles
HOUN
The Adventure of The Empty House
EMPT
The Adventure of The Norwood Builder
NORW
The Adventure of The Dancing Men
DANC
The Adventure of The Solitary Cyclist
SOLI
The Adventure of The Priory School
PRIO
The
The Adventure of Black Peter
BLAC
Return of
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
CHAS
Sherlock
The Adventure of The Six Napoleons
SIXN
Holmes
The Adventure of The Three Students
3STU
The Adventure of The Golden Pince-Nez
GOLD
The Adventure of The Missing Three-Quarter
MISS
The Adventure of The Abbey Grange
ABBE
The Adventure of The Second Stain
SECO
V1 ©2011 John H Watson MD
JohnHWatsonMD.com
Page 5
The Sherlock Holmes Canon
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
The Sherlock Holmes Canon – In Order of Publication in The Collections
Title
Abbrev
Wisteria Lodge
WIST
The Adventure of The Cardboard Box
CARD
The Adventure of The Red Circle
REDC
The Adventure of The Bruce-Partington Plans
BRUC
His Last
The Adventure of The Dying Detective
DYIN
Bow
The Adventure of The Disappearance of Lady Frances
LADY
Carfax
The Adventure of The Devil’s Foot
DEVI
His Last Bow
LAST
The Valley of Fear
VALL
The Adventure of The Illustrious Client
ILLU
The Adventure of The Blanched Soldier
BLAN
The Adventure of The Mazarin Stone
MAZA
The Adventure of The Three Gables
3GAB
The Adventure of The Sussex Vampire
SUSS
The CaseThe Adventure of The Three Garridebs
3GAR
Book of
Sherlock
The Problem of Thor Bridge
THOR
Holmes
The Adventure of The Creeping Man
CREE
The Adventure of The Lion’s Mane
LION
The Adventure of The Veiled Lodger
VEIL
The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place
SHOS
The Adventure of The Retired Colourman
RETI
V1 ©2011 John H Watson MD
JohnHWatsonMD.com
Page 6
The Sherlock Holmes Canon
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
32
34
35
35
37
38
39
The Sherlock Holmes Canon – In Order of their Occurrence
Title
The Adventure of The Gloria Scott
The Adventure of The Musgrave Ritual
A Study in Scarlet
The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place
The Adventure of The Resident Patient
The Adventure of The Beryl Coronet
The Adventure of The Speckled Band
The Problem of Thor Bridge
The Adventure of The Cardboard Box
The Adventure of The Yellow Face
The Adventure of The Greek Interpreter
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
The Valley of Fear
The Adventure of The Reigate Squire
The Adventure of Silver Blaze
The Sign of Four
The Five Orange Pips
The Adventure of The Noble Bachelor
A Scandal in Bohemia
The Adventure of The Stockbroker’s Clerk
The Adventure of The Crooked Man
The Adventure of The Second Stain
The Adventure of The Naval Treaty
The Adventure of The Dying Detective
The Adventure of The Blue Carbuncle
The Adventure of The Boscombe Valley Mystery
The Man with the Twisted Lip
The Adventure of The Engineer’s Thumb
The Hound of the Baskervilles
A Case of Identity
The Adventure of The Copper Beeches
The Red-Headed League
The Adventure of The Final Problem
The Adventure of The Empty House
The Adventure of The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax
The Adventure of The Norwood Builder
The Adventure of The Sussex Vampire
The Adventure of The Golden Pince-Nez
The Adventure of The Red Circle
V1 ©2011 John H Watson MD
JohnHWatsonMD.com
Abbrev
GLOR
MUSG
STUD
SHOS
RESI
BERY
SPEC
THOR
CARD
YELL
GREE
CHAS
VALL
REIG
SILV
SIGN
FIVE
NOBL
SCAN
STOC
CROO
SECO
NAVA
DYIN
BLUE
BOSC
TWIS
ENGR
HOUN
IDEN
COPP
REDH
FINA
EMPT
LADY
NORW
SUSS
GOLD
REDC
Page 7
The Sherlock Holmes Canon
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
The Sherlock Holmes Canon – In Order of their Occurrence
Title
Abbrev
Wisteria Lodge
WIST
The Adventure of The Three Students
3STU
The Adventure of The Solitary Cyclist
SOLI
The Adventure of Black Peter
BLAC
The Adventure of The Bruce-Partington Plans
BRUC
The Adventure of The Veiled Lodger
VEIL
The Adventure of The Missing Three-Quarter
MISS
The Adventure of The Devil’s Foot
DEVI
The Adventure of The Abbey Grange
ABBE
The Adventure of The Dancing Men
DANC
The Adventure of The Retired Colourman
RETI
The Adventure of The Six Napoleons
SIXN
The Adventure of The Priory School
PRIO
The Adventure of The Three Garridebs
3GAR
The Adventure of The Three Gables
3GAB
The Adventure of The Illustrious Client
ILLU
The Adventure of The Creeping Man
CREE
The Adventure of The Blanched Soldier
BLAN
The Adventure of he Mazarin Stone
MAZA
The Adventure of The Lion’s Mane
LION
His Last Bow
LAST
V1 ©2011 John H Watson MD
JohnHWatsonMD.com
Page 8
The Sherlock Holmes Canon
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
The Sherlock Holmes Canon – In Order of their Abbreviations
Title
The Adventure of The Three Gables
The Adventure of The Three Garridebs
The Adventure of The Three Students
The Adventure of The Abbey Grange
The Adventure of The Beryl Coronet
The Adventure of Black Peter
The Adventure of The Blanched Soldier
The Adventure of The Blue Carbuncle
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
The Adventure of The Bruce-Partington Plans
The Adventure of The Cardboard Box
The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
The Adventure of The Copper Beeches
The Adventure of The Creeping Man
The Adventure of The Crooked Man
The Adventure of The Dancing Men
The Adventure of The Devil’s Foot
The Adventure of The Dying Detective
The Adventure of The Empty House
The Adventure of The Engineer’s Thumb
The Adventure of The Final Problem
The Five Orange Pips
The Adventure of The Gloria Scott
The Adventure of The Golden Pince-Nez
The Adventure of The Greek Interpreter
The Hound of the Baskervilles
A Case of Identity
The Adventure of The Illustrious Client
The Adventure of The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax
His Last Bow
The Adventure of The Lion’s Mane
The Adventure of The Mazarin Stone
The Adventure of The Missing Three-Quarter
The Adventure of The Musgrave Ritual
The Adventure of The Naval Treaty
The Adventure of The Noble Bachelor
The Adventure of The Norwood Builder
The Adventure of The Priory School
The Adventure of The Red Circle
V1 ©2011 John H Watson MD
JohnHWatsonMD.com
Abbrev
3GAB
3GAR
3STU
ABBE
BERY
BLAC
BLAN
BLUE
BOSC
BRUC
CARD
CHAS
COPP
CREE
CROO
DANC
DEVI
DYIN
EMPT
ENGR
FINA
FIVE
GLOR
GOLD
GREE
HOUN
IDEN
ILLU
LADY
LAST
LION
MAZA
MISS
MUSG
NAVA
NOBL
NORW
PRIO
REDC
Page 9
The Sherlock Holmes Canon
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
The Sherlock Holmes Canon – In Order of their Abbreviations
Title
The Red-Headed League
The Adventure of The Reigate Squire
The Adventure of The Resident Patient
The Adventure of The Retired Colourman
A Scandal in Bohemia
The Adventure of The Second Stain
The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place
The Sign of Four
The Adventure of Silver Blaze
The Adventure of The Six Napoleons
The Adventure of The Solitary Cyclist
The Adventure of The Speckled Band
The Stockbroker’s Clerk
A Study in Scarlet
The Adventure of The Sussex Vampire
The Problem of Thor Bridge
The Man with the Twisted Lip
The Valley of Fear
The Adventure of The Veiled Lodger
Wisteria Lodge
The Adventure of The Yellow Face
V1 ©2011 John H Watson MD
JohnHWatsonMD.com
Abbrev
REDH
REIG
RESI
RETI
SCAN
SECO
SHOS
SIGN
SILV
SIXN
SOLI
SPEC
STOC
STUD
SUSS
THOR
TWIS
VALL
VEIL
WIST
YELL
Page 10