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First edition, association copy of friend Freeman Hunt
New York: Wiley and Putnam, 1845 (but 1846).
BAL's reissue B of The Tales bound together with The Raven, with no priority given to which is bound first. Although Jacob Blanck (BAL) points to the 3-line copyright notice as the third printing of The Tales, he also cautions that the second and third printing may be two different states of the same printing. Regarding this issue, Heartman offers, "In this state we obviously deal with later copies, although it must be stated that presentation and association copies by Poe exist in this state and that he apparently preferred the combination."
The Tales includes "The Fall of the House of Usher", and the C. Auguste Dupin detective stories "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", "The Mystery of Marie Roget", and "The Purloined Letter". Poems succeeding The Raven include "The Haunted Palace", "Scenes from 'Politician'", and "Tamerlane".
Freeman Hunt was a friend of Poe's and founder and editor for The Merchant's Magazine. In his August 1845 review of The Tales, he wrote, "...we are favored with some fine specimens of the genius of that author, who takes so high a stand among our American fiction displays itself in these as in his previous writings. It is well for our publishers that the fountains from which they can draw, like those of our author's mind, are inexhaustible." Of The Raven he wrote for a January 1846 review, "Exhibiting all the nervous, impatient marks of true genius, an unbridled playfulness of fancy, it is, while seemingly riding havoc in thought, meter and harmony, restrained throughout by a skillful rein, that guides sentiment and style by well defined rules, never allowing it to border upon the ridiculous, or ill judged sublimity." Poe wrote glowingly of Hunt in a sketch for Literati of New York City: "... [Hunt] is “earnest,” “eager,” combining in a very singular manner general coolness and occasional excitability. He is a true friend, and the enemy of no man. His heart is full of the warmest sympathies and charities. No one in New York is more universally popular...". A friend of Poe's through his final years, Hunt gave testimony on Poe's behalf during his 1846-47 libel suit.
Issue points
Tales has 3-line copyright notice and no imprint on copyright page.
On p. 187, the "E" in running head "ROGET" is broken
On p. 224 the final "S" and period in running head "POE'S TALES." are missing
[viii], 91, [92, blank], [4, ads], [2, blank], [vi], 223, [4, ads]. Housed in green half morocco clamshell case.
