The Raven, Illustrated with Biographical Sketch of Author

Poe, Edgar Allan

Published by W. Jennings Demorest, 838 Broadway, New York, 1870

About this Item

First separate American edition. No date; circa 1870. Printed by W. Jennings Demorest and presented to top sales agents of Demorest magazines and as a premium or gift for subscribers. Rare due to its limited distribution as a small private printing, and, being the agreed upon first time it was published independently without additional poems or other literary material as in periodicals or collected works, etc. Ruddy brown cloth boards, gilt cover titles, blind-stamped dentelle at front and back boards, some shelf wear, rub. Pages good w/some acceptable toning, smudge, discoloration. Antiquarian signature pencilled above first page of biographical sketch: "L Shaffer". Flourishing ornamentation and Old English lettering with eighteen dramatic woodcut illustrations greet the reader at each page. Light blue pastedowns; front and back endpaper removed. Gilt exterior text block at all sides. String-bind intact; some split inside covers, exterior spine reinforced. Near good example of this literary rarity. Includes First Day of Issue illustrated envelope w/Poe's 3 cent stamp in violet commemorating the 100th anniversary of his death in 1949. The Raven first appeared in the February, 1845 issue of The American Review journal, and subsequently its first publication as part of a collection was in November of the same year by Wiley and Putnam in The Raven and Other Poems. William Jennings Demorest has the distinction of printing the first separate American edition and this printing contains the original adverts for Demorest's Monthly Magazine, Young America, the Grover & Baker sewing machine, and a "chromo" parlor painting which was also a premium sent to annual subscribers. Insured post. Size: 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall.

Seller Inventory # 020626

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Raven, Illustrated with Biographical Sketch of Author
• Publisher: W. Jennings Demorest, 838 Broadway, New York
• Publication Date: 1870
• Binding: Hard Cover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Good