New York: Wiley & Putnam, 1845. First editions. Tales is one of 1,500 copies of the first printing, with the New York imprint; The Raven is one of 750 copies. Two works in one, octavo (182 x 125 mm). Mid-twentieth-century polished calf, brown morocco label, blind rule border to spine and covers. Morocco book label of Florence (1907 - 1998) and Edward Kaye (1897 - 1994). Binding lightly rubbed, light spots to edges and outer leaves, front free endpaper neatly reinserted, small repair to title of Tales in gutter. A Very Good copy.

Tales collects some of Poe’s most significant stories, among them early examples of science fiction. The book is also “the first important book of detective fiction, the cornerstone of cornerstones in any readers’ or collectors’ guide, the highest of all highspots: The 1845 edition includes for the first time in book form all three Dupin stories: ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’, ‘The Mystery of Marie Roget’, and ‘The Purloined Letter.' ‘The Gold Bug’ is also included” (Queen's Quorum).

Dedicated to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, The Raven and Other Poems was “the most important volume of poetry that had been issued up until that time in America” (Allen, vol. 2, p. 667). It “made Poe’s name known both in America and England, and brought him an immortality that by no other means could he have attained...[The collection] gave him fame as a poet such as no other American has received” (Robertson, vol. 2, pp. 224-5). Along with the iconic title poem, the volume collects “Eulalia," “Tamerlane," “Al Aaraf," and “To Helen." Very Good (Item #7829)