Tamerlane and Al Aaraaf, as printed in The Yankee; and Boston Literary Gazette for 1829. Boston: Wells and Lilly, 1829.
Tall Octavo, contemporary 3/4 leather, leather spine label reading in gilt 'Yankee and Miscellany', marbled boards, frontis portrait of Jeremy Bentham. Bound volume II, July to December, 1829, of John Neal's Yankee Magazine. Extremely uncommon first appearance of Poe in a literary journal. Neal's review of Poe's poem, Fairyland in the September issue provided Poe with his first public encouragement: "E. A. P. of Baltimore -- whose lines about 'Heaven,' though he professes to regard them as altogether superior to any thing in the whole range of American poetry, save two or three trifles referred to, are, though nonsense, rather exquisite nonsense — would but do himself justice, might make a beautiful and perhaps magnificent poem. There is a good deal to justify such a hope." An extract of Fairyland follows. The December issue includes lengthy excerpts from 'Al Aaraaf', 'Tamerlane', and 'To ——' and a very positive review of the yet unpublished work, Al Aaraaf, the result of which was the collections publication. Poe would dedicate that volume to Neal in a show of his appreciation. Later half of volume is bound in several political pamphlets, including William Penn's Essays on the Present Crisis in the Condition of the American Indians; first published in the National Intelligencer. Boston: Perkins and Marvin, 1829. 112 pp; Speech of Daniel Webster, in Reply to Mr. Hayne, of South Carolina... Relative to The Public Lands. Washington: Gales and Seaton, 1830. 96 pp; Remarks of Mr. Webster in the Senate of the United States, May 9, 1828, on the Tariff Bill. Boston: Boston Daily Advertiser, 1828. 48 pp; Committee Review by Hon. Mr. Johnson of Kentucky, 1829. A textually Very Good volume, text block firmly bound, expected foxing, lower fore-edge corner mildly bumped, two front endpapers and frontis detached along with front cover, rear hinge starting, spine leather dry and chipped at ends.
Price: $5,000.00