Doyle, unsuccessful in his medical practice, in need of money and a more satisfying career, had already sold a number of magazine stories when he wrote the novella, "A Study in Scarlet," the first Sherlock Holmes story, which, after many rejections, was published in Beeton's Christmas Annual for 1887.

Doyle got twenty-five pounds for all rights to the story.

He never received another penny for it, although fortunately, in one of those little contractual details that could have changed literary history forever, he retained rights to the character.

Here is the book, A Study in Scarlet, that introduced the world to Sherlock Holmes and his faithful side kick Dr. Watson.