1882 Rare Book - Poems of Edgar Allan Poe With Memoir, Illustrated

Author: Edgar Allan Poe.
Title: Poems of Edgar Allan Poe.
Publisher: Chicago, Belford, Clarke & Co., 1882.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5 x 5 inches.
Pages: 196 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good original publisher’s original richly decorated cloth binding in terracotta red and gilt, elaborately stamped with floral and geometric motifs to boards and spine (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. All edges gilt. 
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or staining - as shown, light upper margin stain affecting the last four leaves - as shown, early ownership inscription to the front endpaper - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with portrait frontispiece of Edgar Allan Poe and four full-page illustrations, including dramatic interpretations of “The Raven” and “Israfel,” finely engraved.

Estimate: (USD 350–450).

The book: A handsome Victorian gift edition of Poe’s celebrated poems, issued in an ornate publisher’s cloth binding typical of late nineteenth-century American decorative book design. The volume gathers many of Poe’s most enduring works—among them “The Raven,” “Annabel Lee,” and “Israfel”—presented in a format meant to appeal to both readers and collectors. The elaborate gilt-blocked cover, combined with all edges gilt and evocative full-page plates, reflects the period’s fascination with luxurious yet affordable literary editions intended for display in the parlour or library. Such copies, when complete with their illustrations and in original decorative cloth, remain highly desirable examples of nineteenth-century Poe reception and book artistry.

The author: Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) stands as one of the most influential figures in American literature. A master of the macabre and psychological tale, he also transformed the lyric poem into a vehicle for haunting musicality and emotional intensity. His poems, especially “The Raven,” established his international reputation and continue to shape modern Gothic and symbolist traditions.

The illustrator: The illustrations in this edition, including those signed C. J. Staniland, interpret Poe’s poetic universe through richly atmospheric Victorian engraving. Their dramatic contrasts of light and shadow visually echo Poe’s themes of mystery, melancholy, and the supernatural, enhancing the volume’s appeal as both a literary and artistic object.