The Black Tulip of American Literature

December 5, 2009 9:06 AM

In 1827, a first-time author paid to have a small number of copies of his book Tamerlane and Other Poems, by a Bostonian printed. When Edgar Allan Poe later reprinted the book under his own name, he apologized for its poor quality, but the first edition has become one of the most sought after rarities in book collecting. This week, one of the two copies in private hands sold for $662,500, but you can flip through this one for free.
posted by Horace Rumpole (5 comments total)

Beautiful.
posted by everichon at 9:08 AM on December 5, 2009

When Edgar Allan Poe later reprinted the book under his own name, he apologized for its poor quality

Poe also once had to apologize for his friend getting him drunk.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 10:05 AM on December 5, 2009 [1 favorite]

Oh neat. Totally excellent. Also that letters site is a hoot (check out the HST missive to an incompetent movie studio). This is the reason I never get any work done, you people suck.



but I love you anyway.
posted by Skygazer at 11:32 AM on December 5, 2009

Cool! I learned about this rare book from (I think) The Bookman's Wake by John Dunning. It's so neat to be able to view a real copy. Thanks.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 11:42 AM on December 5, 2009

What an amazing, original writer Poe was. One of the best America ever produced.

Did anyone ever read the YA novel "The Man Who Was Poe" by Avi? That book really haunted me when I was a kid.
posted by meadowlark lime at 2:15 AM on December 6, 2009