THE WORKS OF THE LATE EDGAR ALLAN POE: WITH NOTICES OF HIS LIFE AND GENIUS . IN TWO VOLUMES

Poe, Edgar Allan

Published by J. S. Redfield, New York, 1850

About this Item

Two volumes. xx,[2],483,[1] plus frontis and two leaves (largely unopened) of terminal adverts; vi,[7]-495pp. Publisher's blind decorated plum cloth, spines lettered in gilt. Spines somewhat sunned and lightly rubbed, two early bookplates on pastedown of each volume, offsetting from portrait to tissue guard, modest shelf rubbing at edges, two short tears to fore-edge of rear free endsheet of the second volume, small spot in lower forecorner of upper board of volume two; otherwise a very good set. First edition, first printing, of each volume of the initial element in what would, by 1856, extend to four volumes. As proper, these volumes are in matching bindings (BAL's binding A). Edited by Rufus Griswold, with prefatory essays by J.R. Lowell (revised from its appearance in GRAHAM'S MAGAZINE in Feb. 1845), and "Death of Edgar A. Poe" by N.P. Willis (reprinted from the number of HOME JOURNAL published the week Poe died). The whole is preceded by a note "To the Reader" by Maria Clemm, Poe's mother-in-law. The portrait is an engraving by J. Sartain. "Mrs. Clemm persuaded Griswold a few days after Poe's death to be his literary executor, claiming that Poe had asked for him. The news that Griswold would be the editor of Poe's collected works raised a clamor from Poe's supporters. Griswold was not willing to give up the executorship so long as he believed it was Poe's wish. Griswold used his editing of Poe's works to purge uncomplimentary references to his own work, and he inserted material into letters from Poe that made Poe seem dependent on him and treacherous to other editors such as George Graham, Louis Godey, and George W. Eveleth. His forgeries were not discovered at the time" (ANB). The first volume collects the "Tales" and the second "Poems and Miscellanies." The subsequent third volume, THE LITERATI . included a controversial "Sketch" by Griswold, and in 1856 the fourth volume appeared, including THE NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM and other prose works. In later years, assembled sets or three or four volumes have often included the second printings of the first two volumes. For many, these volumes present the most accessible (and affordable) form of one of the greatest and most influential bodies of 19th century North American literature. BAL 16158. HEARTMAN & CANNEY, pp.129-131. BLEILER (SUPERNATURAL) 1317. BLEILER (SCIENCE FICTION) 1788. WRIGHT I:2057. Seller Inventory # WRCLIT88796

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE WORKS OF THE LATE EDGAR ALLAN POE: WITH ...

Publisher: J. S. Redfield, New York

Publication Date: 1850