The Raven and Other Poems. [Bound With] Tales.

POE, Edgar Allan.

$32,000.00

Item Number: 139816

New York: Wiley and Putnam, 1845.

Rare first editions of Poe’s two great collections of stories and poems, bound together in the original publisher’s cloth. Octavo, original publisher’s dark green cloth elaborately stamped in blind with gilt titles to the spine, publisher’s advertisements at rear of each volume which are most often lacking with both volumes bound together. Wiley and Putnam issued both titles separately in paper wrappers, but bound the two together for additional appeal to readers. The Raven is bound first in this copy (the order varies); that work is arguably the widest read and best-known in the American canon. Tales includes “The “The Black Cat”, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, “The Descent Into the Maelstrom” and other tales of horror and adventure, as well as the three Dupin stories contained here for the first time in book form and considered “the first important book of detective stories, the first and greatest, the cornerstone of cornerstones…the highest of all high spots” (Queen’s Quorum 1). In very good condition. Tales bears the third issue of the copyright notice. Housed in a custom half morocco and folding chemise slipcase. Rare and desirable in the original publisher’s cloth.

The Raven and Other Poems “was published at one of the low ebbs of Poe’s fortunes, when his Broadway Journal was about to expire, and is thus characterized by his biographer Hervey Allen: The most important volume of poetry that had been issued up to that time in America… In this little volume the weary, wayworn wanderer had successfully reached his own native shore in the realm of imagination” (Grolier, 100 American 56). Poe considered “The Raven” to be his finest poem—indeed, he was quoted as saying it was the finest poem ever written. Dedicated to Elizabeth Barrett Barrett and first published by Wiley & Putnam in November 1845 in an edition of roughly 750 copies, The Raven and Other Poems "made Poe's name known both in America and England, and brought him an immortality that by no other means could he have attained" (Robertson, 224).