[Dore, Gustave (illustrator)] Edgar Allan Poe.

The Raven

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884. First American edition. A Fine copy of the book, beautifully preserved in original(?) plain paper dust wrapper and illustrated box. Bright and unworn, with the only flaw to mention some offsetting between two blanks where it appears some flowers were pressed. Complete with all 27 illustrations, as called for. All all tissue guards with figure legends issued are present. The plain paper dust wrapper is Near Fine with a few small chips and tears, but generally well-preserved. We have seen no other copy in a similar dust wrapper, but all indications are that it was issued by the publisher. In the original publisher's blue, paper-covered box with titles and illustrations in red ink. Box cover archivally and sympathetically repaired, cover spotted. We can trace just two copies in the original publisher's box at auction. A book that regularly turns up bruised and battered, this is the finest copy that we have seen.

One of Poe’s most famous works, brought to life by one of the 19th century’s most well regarded illustrators. The idea for the poem, about a grieving man visited by a dark and mysterious bird, came to Poe after he had read Dickens’ novel "Barnaby Rudge," in which appears a talking raven. Poe took great pains to make sure the poem evoked a very specific atmosphere of horror and, in fact, chronicled the poem’s creation in a later essay entitled “The Philosophy of Composition.” "The Raven" was first published in 1845 and became incredibly popular. Though it would bring Poe little money, it brought him widespread acclaim and inspired countless parodies. "Everyone reads the Poem and praises it... justly, we think, for it seems to us full of originality and power." (Contemporary review in "The New World")

Dore was a French artist, famous for his woodcuts, who had achieved a great deal of renown for illustrating the English Bible in 1866. This would lead to further exhibitions and commissions, including Dante’s "Divine Comedy" and "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Though this book was published a year after Dore died, in 1884, many of his illustrations for "The Raven" are considered “masterpieces of thought and fancy, splendid efforts in form, line, and detailed execution.“ (Blanche Roosevelt, "The Life and Reminiscences of Gustave Dore") Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. (Item #1355)