The June issue sees the conclusion of the first set of twelve Sherlock Holmes stories. Demand for these was so high that A. Conan Doyle was quickly engaged in writing another twelve, the first of which, The Adventure of Silver Blaze, appeared in the December issue.

The Strand Magazine filled the gap between June and December with four linked stories called A Romance from a Detective's Case-Book, which are more 'sensational' and melodramatic than the Sherlock Holmes stories. There was also a long interview with Conan Doyle in the August issue: A Day with Dr. Conan Doyle, by Harry How.

The July issue saw the start of the Shafts from an Eastern Quiver serial, by Charles J. Mansford. This follows the adventures and exploits of two English adventurers and their servant in the 'East'. It also saw the start of the long-running series Zig-Zags at the Zoo, a 'humorous' set of sketches about the animals of London Zoo.

The December issue contains an article A Description of the Offices of the Strand Magazine, giving an interesting insight into the workings of the Strand Magazine at the time.

• Illustrated Interviews. No. VII. Mr. H. Rider Haggard, by Harry How.
• The Cornet-Player, from the Spanish of Pedro A. de Alarcon.
• Dinner at the Zoo.
• The Herald of the Dawn, by J. R. Werner.
• Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

• Catissou, from the French of Jules Clarétie.
• Jack Middleton's Mother, by Charles S. Cheltnam.
• Street Musicians, by Gilbert Guerdon.
• Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. VII. The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, by A. Conan Doyle.
• Is It for Ever?, by George Arthur Binnie and Franco Leoni.
• Drak the Fairy, from the French of Emile Souvestre.
• The Queer Side of Things
  • Sir Ogre's Estate, by J. F. Sullivan.
  • The Man with the Dogs.
  • A Snow Lady.
  • Curiosities of a Century.
  • "Pug".
  • A Snake Story, by René Bull
  • Miscellaneous.

• The Saving of Karl Reichenberg, by Arthur Page.
• Illustrated Interviews. No. VIII. Sir Morell Mackenzie, by Harry How.
• After the Crime, from the French of Constant Guéroult.
• My Neighbour's Dogs, by Arthur Morrison.
• Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. VIII. The Adventure of the Speckled Band, by A. Conan Doyle.
• Beauty in Nature I. Introduction, by Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P..
• Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

• The Prince's Crime, a True Romance of India, by J. E. Muddock.
• Weather Watchers and Their Work.
• His Chance at Last, by Harry How.
• A Night Ride on the "Flying Scotchman", by F. G. Kitton.
• The Romance of a Telegraph Wire, from the German of Karl von Schlözer.
• The Queer Side of Things
  • Moozeby, by J. F. Sullivan.
  • Hair & Head Curiosities
  • The Doll and the Raven: or, a Fatal Smile
  • A Mustard Plaster by Max Cowper
  • Miscellaneous

• In the Midst of the Sea, from the Italian of Countess Bice de Benvenuti.
• Illustrated Interviews. No. IX. Professor Blackie, by Harry How.
• Strong-Minded Miss Methuen, by E. W. Hornung.
• How the Deaf and Dumb are Educated, by Edward Salmon.
• Clouds with Silver Linings, from the French of Mme. Emile de Girardin, tr. James Mortimer.
• Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

• Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. IX. The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb, by A. Conan Doyle.
• Beauty in Nature II. Woods and Fields, by Sir John Lubbock, Bart, M.P..
• The Curate's Temptation, by Maurice Saxon.
• Monkey Society: One of Its Ornaments.
• The Three Sisters and Their Glass Hearts, from the Russian.
• The Queer Side of Things
  • Impossibility: A Study of Reason & Science, by J. F. Sullivan.
  • Found in the Snow.
  • Boots & Shoes of All Ages, by George Cruikshank, Jr.
  • Morimoto.
  • Miscellaneous/.

• The Black Knight, by Raymund Allen.
• Illustrated Interviews. No. X. Mr. F. C. Burnand, by Harry How.
• The Mystery of the Rue de Pot-de-Fer, by F. Bayford Harrison.
• In Leadenhall Market, by Arthur Morrison.
• Lady Florry's Gems, by George Manville Fenn.
• Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

• Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. X. The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor, by A. Conan Doyle.
• Beauty in Nature III. Rivers and Lakes, by Sir John Lubbock, Bart, M.P..
• Two Marriage Eves, by Richard Dowling.
• The Marquis of Dufferin and Ava.
• Budiak's Sacrifice, from the Hungarian.
• The Queer Side of Things
  • More of Moozeby by J. F. Sullivan.
  • Hawk Killed by Train
  • Pal’s Puzzle Page by Jean de Paléologue
  • Road Travelling of the Past by George Cruikshank, Jr..
  • How I Lost Palette and Patron by René Bull
  • Miscellaneous.

• Illustrated Interviews. No. XI. Lord Wolseley, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., &c., by Harry How.
• In the Interests of Science, The Story of a Burglary, from the German.
• Parrot Stories.
• The Lost Legion, by Rudyard Kipling.
• May Queens, by Rev. W. Dallow.
• Dr. Freston's Brother.
• Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

• Mr. Jones: A Part of His Life—and of Mine, by Henry W. Lucy.
• Beauty in Nature IV. Mountains, by Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P..
• Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. XI. The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet, by A. Conan Doyle.
• Champions
• The Prince with the Hand of Gold, from the Serbian.
• The Queer Side of Things
  • "The Retaliator" by J. F. Sullivan.
  • Some London Street Cries by George Cruikshank, Jr..
  • A Vestry Meeting by Louis Wain.
  • A Cat-as-trophy

• Zodomirsky's Duel from the French of Alexandre Dumas.
• Illustrated Interviews. No. XII. Madame Adelina Patti, by Harry How.
• The Bride of Felix Armstrong by J. Harwood Panting.
• How a Sculptor Works by Alfred T. Story.
• The Conscientious Burglar by Grant Allen.
• Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

• Wilt Thou Understand? by G. M. G. and Jacques Blumenthal.
• Sun-Dials by Warrington Hogg
• Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. XII. The Adventure of the Copper Beeches, by A. Conan Doyle.
• Instantaneous Photographs by Arthur Morrison.
• The Silver Penny from the Hungarian.
• The Queer Side of Things
  • The End of War by J. F. Sullivan
  • Silver-Plated by W. L. Alden.
  • Two Views of Lord Palmerston by Samuel A. Walker
  • Pal's Puzzle Page by Jean de Paléologue
  • Miscellaneous

• Marceau's Prisoner, from the French of Alexandre Dumas.
• Zig-Zags at the Zoo, I. Prelusory by Arthur Morrison.
• Shafts from an Eastern Quiver, I. The Diamonds of Shomar's Queen, by Charles J. Mansford.
• The Evolution of the Cycle.
• A Garden of Roses, by Harry How.
• Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

• The Raising of the Utopia.
• Dr. Trifulgas, from the French of Jules Verne.
• Illustrated Interviews. XIII. George Augustus Sala, by Harry How.
• A Romance from a Detective's Case-Book: The Jewelled Skull, by Dick Donovan.
• Popular Composers.
• The Story of Mont Blanc, by J. E. Muddock.
• Rajeb's Reward, from the French of M. P. Granal.
• The Queer Side of Things
  • The Legend of Bill Erie, by J. Soudan.
  • Aristocracy of the Doggy World.
  • A Dynamite Scare, by W. Alison Phillips.
  • Pal's Puzzle Page, by Jean de Paléologue.
  • Miscellaneous.

• A Romance from a Detective's Case-Book: The Story of the Great Cat's-Eye, by Dick Donovan.
• Illustrated Interviews. XIV. Sir Frederick Leighton, P.R.A., by Harry How.
• Shafts from an Eastern Quiver, II. The Jasper Vale of the Falling Star, by Charles J. Mansford.
• Boy Soldiers and Sailors, by Frances H. Low.
• Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

• There's Many a Slip, by Annie L. Coghill.
• Zig-Zags at the Zoo, II. Zig-Zag Ursine by Arthur Morrison.
• Nicette, from the French of Saint-Juirs.
• A Day with Dr. Conan Doyle, by Harry How.
• A Nightmare of the Doldrums, by W. Clark Russell.
• Grandfather's Picture-Books
• The Three Lemons, from the Italian.
• The Queer Side of Things
  • Vegetable Oddities.
  • Mantles, Cloaks and Outdoor Garments.
  • Pal's Puzzle Page, by Jean de Paléologue.
  • Miscellaneous.

• Queen Victoria's Dolls, by Frances H. Low.
• The Case of Roger Carboyne, by H. Greenhough Smith.
• Zig-Zags at the Zoo, III. Zigzag Cameline by Arthur Morrison.
• Shafts from an Eastern Quiver, III. The Black Horsemen of Nisha the Seer, by Charles J. Mansford.
• Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

• His Little Girl; or, Worked Out, by Pleydell North.
• Illustrated Interviews. XV. Mr. Henry Irving, by Harry How.
• A Romance from a Detective's Case-Book: The Secrets of the Black Brotherhood, by Dick Donovan.
• Types of English Beauty.
• The Prisoners, from the French of Guy de Maupassant.
• The Three Brother Beasts, from the Italian.
• The Queer Side of Things
  • The Birthrate, by J. F. Sullivan.
  • Pal's Puzzle Page, by Jean de Paléologue.
  • Club Types, by H. M. Beerbohm.
  • Miscellaneous.

• Antonello, the Gondolier, from the German of Freiherr Gaudy.
• A Visit to the Eddystone Lighthouse, by F. G. Kitton.
• At Eagle's Gorge, by E. M. Hewitt.
• Infinite Love, by Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
• Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

• The Great Ruby Robbery, by Grant Allen.
• Zig-Zags at the Zoo, No. IV. Zigzag Miscellavian by Arthur Morrison.
• Professor Morgan's Romance, by Kate Lee.
• Types of English Beauty.
• Shafts from an Eastern Quiver, IV. Darak, the Scorn of the Afghans, by Charles J. Mansford.
• Illustrated Interviews. XVI. The Rev. J. E. C. Welldon, by Harry How.
• The Lost Spear.
• The Queer Side of Things
  • Pal's Puzzle Page, by Jean de Paléologue.
  • Pictures of a Diver.
  • Polo in the Water.
  • Soldiers of a Century.
  • Miscellaneous.

• Shafts from an Eastern Quiver, V. The Sword-Hilt of the Idol at Delhi, by Charles J. Mansford.
• Obstacle Races.
• A Romance from a Detective's Case-Book: The Chamber of Shadows, by Dick Donovan.
• The Camera Amongst the Sea Birds, by Benjamin Wyles.
• Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

• Gas, by Edward Salmon.
• Illustrated Interviews. XVII. Miss Ellen Terry, by Harry How.
• Ugly Margot, from the French.
• Types of English Beauty.
• A Palpitating Interview, by Mrs. E. Baumer Williams.
• Zig-Zags at the Zoo, V. Zig-Zag Leonine by Arthur Morrison.
• The Little Grey Man, from the French of E. Laboulaye.
• The Queer Side of Things
  • The Identity of Mr. Push, by J. F. Sullivan.
  • The Gunpowder Plot.
  • Club Types, by H. M. Beerbohm.

• The Queen's Hindustani Diary, by Moulvie Rafiüddin Ahmad.
• Shafts from an Eastern Quiver, VI. The Hindu Fakir of the Silent City, by Charles J. Mansford.
• Illustrated Interviews. XVIII. William Howard Russell, LL.D., by Harry How.
• The Black Virgin, from the French of Charles Epheyre.
• Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

• A Description of the Offices of the Strand Magazine.
• The Toilers of the Rocks, from the German of Ferdinand de Saar.
• Types of English Beauty.
• A Vision of the Night, by Richard Marsh.
• Zig-Zags at the Zoo, V. Zig-Zag Elephantine by Arthur Morrison.
• Adventures of Sherlock Holmes XIII. The Adventure of Silver Blaze, by A. Conan Doyle.
• Zerbin the Wood-Cutter, from the French of E. Laboulaye.
• The Queer Side of Things
  • Old Professor Willett, by Jas. F. Sullivan.
  • Home for the Holidays.
  • Preparing for the Pantomime at Drury Lane.
  • Club Types, by H. M. Beerbohm.
  • Pal's Puzzle Page by Jean de Paléologue