12/31/2002

I am interested to learn more information, such as rarity/value for a remarkable little book about shells, by Edgar A. Poe that I have in my possession: printed/published in 1839, Philadelphia, by Haswell, Barrington and Haswell.

This 156p book is approximately 6.75"x4.75"x 0.5". The board is cream colored with a picture to front and dark green spine with worn gold embossing, worn at the spine folds. There is foxing to all of the interior pages. I will be happy to take digital pictures of the book and supply if necessary. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

-- Anonymous, December 31, 2002

Answers

The 1839 edition is worth more than the 1840 edition (or the 1845 edition), but it is mostly a curiousity. In good condition, the 1839 edition frequently comes up for sale in the $450-$850 range. Copies with original color plates are worth more. If the plates are lacking, then it is worth somewhat less. Poe probably wrote nothing more than the introduction, and even that is in doubt. His name is given as author mostly to avoid a copyright problem between Harper Brothers and Thomas Wyatt, the real author.

-- Anonymous, January 02, 2003