REAL GHOST STORIES. [GHOSTS: BEING THE EXPERIENCES OF FLAXMAN LOW]. Complete in 12 Individual Monthly Parts as Published in Pearson's Magazine. Comprising of 'The Story of 'The Spaniards' Hammersmith', 'The Story of Medhans Lea', 'The Story of the Moor Road', 'The Story of Baelbrow', 'The Story of The Grey House', 'The Story of Yand Manor House', 'The Story of Sevens Hall', 'The Story of Saddler's Croft', 'The Story of No. 1, Karma Crescent', 'The Story of Konnor Old House', 'The Story of Crowsedge', 'The Story of Mr. Flaxman Low'.

First edition, first printing in the 12 individual original parts. Publisher's pictorial paper covers. Twelve volumes, loosely laid into the publisher's original cloth cases. With 95 black and white illustrations throughout the text by Benjamin Edward Minns. Each volume in good or very good condition, the bindings firm with some rubbing and chipping to the extremities, resulting in areas loss to the spines of most volumes. The contents, with some toning to the cheap quality paperstock and foxing to the occasional page, are otherwise clean throughout and without inscriptions or stamps. The covers of four volumes are detached (Jan 1899, April 1899, May 1899, June 1899), with two rear covers missing (Jan 1899, May 1899). The publisher's green cloth cases, decorated in green, brown and gilt, are in near fine condition with a little rubbing and bumping at the edges. All volumes are in entirely original condition, without repair or restoration. Rare in this form.

A collection of supernatural mysteries featuring Flaxman Low, who is considered one of the earliest occult detectives. 'Real Ghost Stories' was issued in serialized form by Cyril Arthur Pearson in two series of six parts between 1898 and 1899 written by Hesketh V. Prichard and Kate O'Brien Ryall Prichard under the pen name E. and H. Heron. Every six months the publisher would take the unsold stock of the individual monthly parts and bind them into decorated cloth boards supplying a new title page and discarding the original wrappers in the process. The first edition in book form, published by Pearson under the title 'Ghosts: Being the Experiences of Flaxman Low', collected all twelve stories, with a frontispiece and 12 illustrations (far fewer than the 95 published in Pearsons Magazine). (Bleiler)