Sexton Blake is a fictional detective who has been featured in many British comic strips, novels, and dramatic productions since 1893.

He was featured in various British publications from 1893 to 1978 in a variety of formats: single-issue adventures, short stories, serials, and comic strips.

[1][2] During its golden age (1920s–1940s), Blake's adventures were widely read and translated into at least twenty different languages, including Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, French, Arabic, Hindi, and Afrikaans.

Written by Harry Blyth (using the pseudonym Hal Meredeth), it was published in The Halfpenny Marvel number 6, on 20 December 1893, a story paper owned by the Amalgamated Press.

[4]: 7  Blyth wrote six more Sexton Blake tales, three for the Marvel and three for The Union Jack a story paper launched in April 1894.

These appearances included serials in the tabloid sized Boys' Friend, complete tales in the pocket-sized Penny Pictorial, and short stores in Answers, one of the Amalgamated Press' most popular papers.

[9] As many of authors published in The Union Jack before 1929 were uncredited, the Sexton Blake Circle adopted the practice of accrediting authorship to the person who received payment for the tale until proven otherwise.

[10] Led by Len and Josie Packman expansion and revision on the master corpus was ongoing throughout the early 1960s as research brought more titles to light.

The announcement in Story Paper Collectors' Digest read: This long anticipated catalogue, prepared with loving care by members of the Sexton Blake Circle, is now awaiting you.

The announcement read: With over 120 pages of text and illustrations listing all the known appearances of the world's greatest detective in print, TV, radio and celluloid, this bibliography is a must for all collectors.It was issued by The Sexton Blake Library in Loughton, Essex.

[30][31] As can be seen by the title of these stories the early Edwardian phase of Blake's career consists of tales where he goes undercover in various jobs or travels overseas.