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The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [1234]

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was then in its 2d year with 700 subscribers & the general outcry was that because a Magazine had never succeeded South of the Potomac therefore a Magazine ne[ver] cd succeed. Yet in despite of this & in despite of the wretched taste of its proprietor which hampered & controlled me at all points I in 15 months increased the circulation in I’ months to ‘,Soo. subscribers. paying an annual profit of 10,000 when I left it. This number was never exceeded by the journal which rapidly went down & may now be said to be extinct. Of “Graham’s Magazine” you have no doubt heard. It had been in existence under the name of the “Casket” for 8 years, when I became its editor with a subscriSption list of about sooo. In about I8months afterward its circulation amounted to no less than 50-000—astonishi[n]g as this may appear. At this period I left it. It is now 2years since, and the number of subscribers is now not morethan 2’ ooo—but possibly very much less. In 3 years it will be extinct. The nature of this journal, however, was such, that even its so.ooo subscribers could not make it very profitable to its proprietor[s]. Its price was $3—but not only were its expenses immense owing to the employment of absurd steel plates <&other extravagances which tell not at all> but recourse was had to innumerable agents who reed it at a discount of no less th[a]n so per cent & whose [f]reque[n]t dishonesty occasional enormous loss. But, if 50000 canbe obtained for a 3$ Maga- among a class of readers who really read little, why may not 50,000. be procured for a $5 journal among the true and permanent readers of the land?

Holding steadily in view my ultimate purpose—to fou[n]d a Magazine of my own, or in which at least I might have a proprietary right,—it has been my constant endeavour in the meantime not so much to establish a reputation great in itself as one of that particular character which should best further my special object[s], and draw attention to my exertions as Editor of a Magazine Thus I have written no books and [at this point, running upsile lown anl between anl among the worls, occur two sums:20,000

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240000

60000

-anl8|20,000

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have been so far essentially a Magazinist—That That >>putting up not<< bearing not only willi[n]gly but cheerfully >>with the thousand<< sad poverty & the thousand consequent >>ill< which the >>the<< condition of the mere Magazinist entails upon him in America.—where more than in any other region upon the face of the globe to be poor is to be despised.

The one great di~culty resulting from this course, is that unless the journalist collects his various articles he is liable to be grossly misconceived & misjudged by men of whose good opinion he would be proud—< and > but who to

supply a particular demand. He loses, too, whatever merit may be his due on the score of versatility—a point which can only be estimated by collection of his various articles in volume form and altogether. This is indeed a serious didiculty—to seek a remedy for which is my object in my own case in writi[n]g you this letter. [Here follow some scribblings:]wh whic extinctioD b by

Setting aside, for the present, my criticisms poems & miscellanies (sudiciently numerous) my tales a great number of which might be termed Phantasy Pieces, are in number sixty-six. They would make, perhaps, s of the ordinary novel volumes. I have them prepared in every respect for the press; but, alas, I have no money, nor that influence which would enable me to get a publisher—although I seek nopecuniary remuneration. My sole im[m]ediate object is the furtherance of my ultimate one. I believe

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