Exhibit:

A Mystery in Scarlet: Illustrations and Text, by Installment

Preview of images

"'By order of the King, Fire!'" The London Miscellany 1 (10 Feb 1866), 1
"Waiting for the Robbers." The London Miscellany 2 (17 Feb 1866), 17
"The House on Fire." The London Miscellany 3 (24 Feb 1866), 33
"The Storm on the Thames." The London Miscellany 4 (3 Mar 1866), 49
"'Treason! Guard! Treason!'" The London Miscellany 5 (10 March 1866), 65
"The Apparition." The London Miscellany 7 (24 Mar 1866), 97
"Plotting Murder." The London Miscellany 8 (31 Mar 1866), 113
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"The King's Plot." The London Miscellany 10 (14 April 1866), 145
"The Court-Martial." The London Miscellany 11 (21 Apr 1866), 161
"The King's Victim." The London Miscellany 12 (28 April 1866), 177
"The Attemped Suicide." The London Miscellany 13 (5 May 1866), 193
"The Queen." The London Miscellany 14 (12 May 1866), 209
"A False Alarm." The London Miscellany 15 (19 May 1866), 225
"Every Inch a King." The London Miscellany 16 (26 May 1866), 242
"The Chamber of Death." The London Miscellany 17 (2 June 1866), 258
"Norris Outwitted." The London Miscellany 18 (9 June 1866), 259

Parent Resource

A Mystery in Scarlet

James Malcolm Rymer's penny dreadful A Mystery in Scarlet was published in the London Miscellany (1866). It was the leading serial, or serial published on the front page of consecutive numbers. Each of the eighteen installments of A Mystery in Scarlet includes a header and three chapters. Seventeen of these installments (all but the ninth) begin with an illustration by the celebrated artist "Phiz" (Hablot K. Browne) and are executed in the medium of wood engraving. The illustrations of the first and final installment (plates no. 1 and 18) derive from the unbound copies of those installments in the collection of the Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. All other illustrations derive from the bound copy of The London Miscellany, no. 1-18, in the collection of the same institution's Wells Library. All images are published here courtesy of the Lilly Library, where the photographs were created. Please click on any installment to view the illustration and read the corresponding text. 

Click here to return to the index page of this edition.

 

Images in this Exhibit

A Mystery in Scarlet No. 1: "'By Order of the King, Fire!'"
"'By order of the King, Fire!'" The London Miscellany 1 (10 Feb 1866), 1

At Kew Palace, Captain Markham (left) leads the firing squad. They fire through a curtain, unable to see the condemned person(s). At Markham's immediate right, George II's valet Norris cowers.  From The London Miscellany, no. 1 (10 February, 1866), 1. An unbound penny number of the periodical. Courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Read the installment text here. 
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 2: "Waiting for the Robbers."
"Waiting for the Robbers." The London Miscellany 2 (17 Feb 1866), 17

In the Mystery's house in Westminster, Bertha aims at the barricaded door as the robbers try to break in. Note the two portraits on the walls. From The London Miscellany, no. 2 (17 February 1866), 17. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 3: "The House on Fire."
"The House on Fire." The London Miscellany 3 (24 Feb 1866), 33

The benevolent highwayman points the way as Bertha and Markham flee. From The London Miscellany, no. 3 (24 February 1866), 33. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 4: "The Storm on the Thames."
"The Storm on the Thames." The London Miscellany 4 (3 Mar 1866), 49

In the wherry, Markham and Bertha contend with the storm-stirred currents. From The London Miscellany, no. 4 (3 March, 1866), 49. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 5: "'Treason! Guard! Treason!'"
"'Treason! Guard! Treason!'" The London Miscellany 5 (10 March 1866), 65

George II accuses his son and heir, Frederick, Prince of Wales, of treason by attempted parricide. At left, Norris looks on. From The London Miscellany , no. 5 (10 March, 1866), 65. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 6: "A Scene at the Mall."

In the Mall, St. James society parades in its finery. At left, the highwayman Frank Bellair opposes his father General Sir Thomas Bellair. At right, Frank's sister Lady Agnes Bellair rebuffs the Marquis of Charlton. From The London Miscellany, no. 6 (17 March, 1866), 81. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 7: "The Apparition."
"The Apparition." The London Miscellany 7 (24 Mar 1866), 97

At Whitehall, Markham sees an apparition pass through the abandoned room. A tall man in a scarlet coat, this vision uncannily resembles the late Mystery in Scarlet. How can this be? From The London Miscellany, no. 7 (24 March 1866), 97. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 8: "Plotting Murder."
"Plotting Murder." The London Miscellany 8 (31 Mar 1866), 113

As General Sir Thomas Bellair bows, George II opens his diamond-covered snuffbox. From The London Miscellany, no. 8 (31 March 1866), 113. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 9
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This number of the London Miscellany introduces a new leading serial: The Withered Hand, or, the Story of a Woman's Love and Hate, by "Julian St. George." The front page carries an illustration of this serial, accompanying its opening chapters, while the ninth instalment of A Mystery in Scarlet begin eleven pages into the number. It is unclear why A Mystery in Scarlet was temporarily displaced from the front page. Perhaps Rymer wished to draw attention to the new serial, or else the appropriate weekly illustration was not completed on time. In the...
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 10: "The King's Plot."
"The King's Plot." The London Miscellany 10 (14 April 1866), 145

Markham draws his sword to offer it to George II. The king shouts a dreadful accusation. From The London Miscellany, no. 10 (14 April, 1866), 145. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 11: "The Court-Martial."
"The Court-Martial." The London Miscellany 11 (21 Apr 1866), 161

Captain Markham is interrogated by General Sir Thomas Bellair. From The London Miscellany, no. 11 (21 April, 1866), 161. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 12: "The King's Victim."
"The King's Victim." The London Miscellany 12 (28 April 1866), 177

Bertha rushes to give her life to save Markham. Is she too late? From The London Miscellany, no. 12 (28 April 1866), 177. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 13: "The Attempted Suicide."
"The Attemped Suicide." The London Miscellany 13 (5 May 1866), 193

General Sir Thomas Bellair attempts suicide. Has the Marquis of Charlton found him in time? From The London Miscellany, no. 13 (5 May 1866), 193. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 14: "The Queen."
"The Queen." The London Miscellany 14 (12 May 1866), 209

Caroline of Ansbach, Queen of Great Britain, comes to the aid of Lucy Kerr, Lady Agnes Bellair, the Marquis of Charlton, Captain Markham, and Bertha. From The London Miscellany, no. 14 (12 May 1866), 209. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 15: "A False Alarm."
"A False Alarm." The London Miscellany 15 (19 May 1866), 225

Royal family discord. George II confront Frederick, Prince of Wales, before the Queen and Norris. From The London Miscellany, no. 15 (19 May 1866), 225. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 16: "Every Inch a King."
"Every Inch a King." The London Miscellany 16 (26 May 1866), 242

The Mystery in Scarlet reveals himself to Bertha, Markham, and the Marquis of Charlton. From The London Miscellany, no. 16 (26 May 1866), 242. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 17: "The Chamber of Death."
"The Chamber of Death." The London Miscellany 17 (2 June 1866), 258

In Whitehall's labyrinthine depths, our heroes discover the remains of Charles I's executioner... and his last testament. From The London Miscellany, no. 17 (2 June 1866), 258. Wells Library copy. Image courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
A Mystery in Scarlet No. 18: "Norris Outwitted."
"Norris Outwitted." The London Miscellany 18 (9 June 1866), 259

Norris and George II. Will Markham and Bertha at last escape? From The London Miscellany, no. 18 (9 June 1866), 259. An unbound penny number. Courtesy Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Complete, bound copy of The London Miscellany, no. 1-18 (1866).

A complete, bound copy of The London Miscellany no. 1-18 (1866), edited by James Malcolm Rymer. From the collection of the Wells Library, Bloomington, Indiana. Please access it via Google Play.