The Raven.
$6,833 · Offered by Biblio
New York: Wiley and Putnam, February [but January,], 1845. And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor / Shall be lifted - nevermore! First appearance of "The Raven" (pp. 143-5), appearing in the second number under the pseudonym "by --- Quarles". This bound volume of the American Review's initial six numbers is a presentation copy, inscribed by the editor on the first blank, "Col. Webb, Ed. Courier & Enq[uirer], from the Editor, G. H. Colton". George Hooker Colton (1818-1847) paid Poe "not over $20" for "The Raven", which is introduced by Colton's brief essay on poetic metre. Colton recited the poem to staff "in his ramshackle Nassau Street office before yet it had gone into type; and as he closed with oratorical effect the last refrain, he declared with an emphasis that shook the whole mass of his flaxen locks - 'that is amazing - amazing!'" (Thomas, p. 484). Colton presented this volume to General James Watson Webb (1802-1884), whose own paper, Courier & Enquirer, once had the largest circulation in the nation. "The Raven" was immediately successful, appealing to both the popular and critical taste of its day, and it was reprinted at least ten times within a month. The Evening Mirror issue of 29 January announced that they were reprinting the poem in advance of the February issue of the American Review; however, the American Review itself announced that the February number would in fact be issued in early January. Richard Gimbel notes that the Evening
- Year: 1845
- Binding: unknown
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