Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, inscribed - photo 1
Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, inscribed - photo 2
Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, inscribed - photo 3

Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, inscribed

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$ 441 000
Auction dateClassic
15.06.2023 10:00UTC -04:00
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CHRISTIE'S
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USA, New York
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ID 967631
Lot 35 | Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, inscribed
Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, inscribed

Edgar Allan Poe, 1840

POE, Edgar Allan (1809-1849). Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque. Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1840.



Edgar Allan Poe presents his first book of tales to his cousin, Emily: "For Mrs Emily Virginia Chapman from Her Affectionate Cousin / The Author." An exquisite copy, richly bound for presentation in black morocco gilt.



This first edition of Poe's first volume of tales consisted of only 750 copies, and the author's only compensation for the book was "a few copies for distribution" among his friends (letter of 28 September 1839 from Lea & Blanchard, qtd. in the Poe Log). He did, however, retain the copyright. The publication gathered 25 stories, including "MS in a Bottle" and "The Fall of the House of Usher," all but one of which had been previously published. Though it proved a commercial failure, Tales was a milestone in Poe's career as it marked the culmination of his long-standing efforts (beginning as early as 1834) to have his prose published in book form.



The recipient of this specially-bound author's copy was Poe's first cousin, Emily Virginia Herring Chapman [Beacham] (1822-1908), who was the daughter of Elizabeth Poe Herring (1792-1822; his father's younger sister) and Henry Herring (1792-1868) of Baltimore. Emily Herring's first husband, Nathan Chapman, died early in their marriage and in 1850 she remarried Robert Beacham of Baltimore, who also died soon after. She then made her home with her only daughter and her family. Poe remained close to this branch of his family; when he died in Baltimore on 7 October 1849, it was cousin Emily's father, Henry Herring, who organized the funeral. Inscribed copies of the first edition are extremely rare. Only this copy and one inscribed for the banker and statesman Nicholas Biddle appear in the records of RBH, and the Biddle copy is in the usual muslin-backed boards.



The present copy contains four pages of adverts at the rear of both volumes, including a review from Washington Irving, who remarks that he is "much pleased" by "The Fall of the House of Usher" in particular and notes that its "graphic effect is powerful." The present copy has page 213 misnumbered 231 and on page 219, the "i" in "ing" (line 13 up) and the hyphen (end of line 6 up) are both below the line, though there is no priority. BAL 16133; Heartman & Canny, pp. 49-54; Dwight Thomas and David K. Jackson, The Poe Log, pp. 272-277.



Two volumes, octavo (187 x 110mm). 4 pp. of ads at rear of both vols 1 and 2 (foxing internally). Contemporary fine-grained black morocco presentation binding, gilt and blind-stamped borders, gilt fleurons at inner corners of central panel, spine gilt in six compartments, four with concentric gilt rectangles, two gilt-lettered, all edges gilt, board edges with gilt chevrons, coated yellow endpapers (presentation inscription a bit light on the coated endpapers, touch of rubbing to extremities); modern quarter-morocco box. Provenance: Emily Virginia Herring Chapman Beacham, 1822-1908 (presentation inscription from the author) – early pencil verses to front flyleaf – anonymous owner, a direct descendant of the recipient (Sotheby's, 24 September 1986, lot 201) – anonymous owner (Christie's, 7 October 1994, lot 120) – Donald G. Drapkin (Christie's, 29 June 2005, lot 304).

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