# I'm not an art collector, but I want this **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-an-art-collector-but-i-want-this/691018 "2014-06-17T22:23:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-an-art-collector-but-i-want-this/691018/1 "2014-06-17T22:23:26Z")
Now, if I only had about $60,000 or so, I’d be buying [this](http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/books-manuscripts/doyle-arthur-conan-paget-sidney-il-5809056-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5809056&sid=5a1adc73-86e3-407e-a5e5-f8486e047a5f). It’s my very favorite Sidney Paget illustration. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-an-art-collector-but-i-want-this/691018/2 "2014-06-17T22:55:46Z")
Is Sherlock wearing bell bottoms? Nice illustration. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-an-art-collector-but-i-want-this/691018/3 "2014-06-18T00:33:37Z")
I think it’s the hem of his coat. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-an-art-collector-but-i-want-this/691018/4 "2014-06-18T00:37:21Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I think it’s the hem of his coat. On closer look, I’ll agree. I think I see a pant leg under it. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-an-art-collector-but-i-want-this/691018/5 "2014-06-18T02:07:33Z")
It’s nice…but It isn’t $60,000 worth of nice! I just went to DeviantArt, and found quite a few original Holmes illustrations (I had to scroll quite a bit to get past Downey and Cumberbatch) that I actually like better, and which could probably be purchased for only dozens of dollars, not thousands. (I know the historical context and provenance of the Paget are worth a great deal to serious collectors. But who can afford to be a serious collector?) ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-an-art-collector-but-i-want-this/691018/6 "2014-06-18T02:46:38Z")
Holy crap! That’s _the_ original? The one printed in the magazine and later books? It’s the drawing that inspired the popular image of Holmes as wearing a trench coat and deerstalker cap (although he was only really dressed that way for a journey into the countryside). I’m amazed it’s only going for $60,000. That can’t be right. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-an-art-collector-but-i-want-this/691018/7 "2014-06-18T02:58:34Z")
Unless I’m missing something, that’s the original. Yep, $60,000, but I bet there’ll be a bidding war.