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[. . . .]

I am exceedingly anxious. If you would be so kind as to look me up, I will consider it a great favor. You understand the whole story is purely fiction. —

Your opinion is of great consideration. —

Yr Ob. St

Edgar A. Poe

Edgar Allan Poe to Unknown — January 10 - April 11, 1846

[. . . .]

The philosophy detailed in the “Last Conversation of a Somnambule,” is my own — original, I mean, with myself, and had long impressed me. I was anxious to introduce it to the world in a manner that should insure for it attention. I thought that by presenting my speculations in a garb of vraisemblance — giving them as revelations — I would secure for them a hearing, and I depended upon what the Popular Record very properly calls the “Magazinish” tone of the article to correct any false impression which might arise in regard to the question of fact or fable. In the case of Valdemar, I was actuated by similar motives, but in this latter paper, I made a more pronounced effort at verisimilitude for the sake of effect. The only material difference between the two articles is, that in one I believe actual truth to be involved; in the other I have aimed at merely suggestion and speculation. I find the Valdemar case universally copied and received as truth , even in spite of my disclaimer. [. . . . ]

Edgar Allan Poe, promissory note - January 15, 1846.]

New-York: Jan 15. 1846.

[name excised, probably John McDougall] Esqre -- At three days' sight, please pay to the order of Harnden & Co, the sum of Twenty-Five Dollars, and charge the same to my account.

>>Edgar A Poe<<

[This item is printed here with permission of the Boston Public Library, where it is noted as Ms. E .9.4 75-166.]

[The note of "$25 ----" appears running vertically across the left edge of this note. The reverse side of the item is endorsed, like a check, partially obscured by the excision of the name from the note: "E. A. Poe (/) [J????] 6/46 (or 16/46) (/) $25. -- (/) J A McDo[ugall]" The final five letters of "McDougall run off the edge of the page, suggesting that the surviving item was cut down from a larger sheet of paper.]

[John W. Ostrom describes this note as item 610e in his revised checklist of 1981 as a "Three-line letter." The size and nature of the item, however, more appropriately classifies it as a promissory note.]

Edgar Allan Poe to Unknown — June 16, 1846

June 16, 1846

My Dear Sir,

Can you oblige me by getting the following in “The Tribune” or some other daily? Mr. Poe has been invited by the Literary Societies of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. to deliver a poem at their approaching anniversary, but this invitation, as well as that of the University of Vermont, he is forced to decline through continued illness and a press of other engagements. Who is the “great writer of small things in Ann St” referred to by Briggs in the article about me in the Mirror, of the 26? Has anything concerning me appeared lately in Morris’ “National Press”?

Truly yours,

Poe

Edgar Allan Poe to Unknown — April 29, 1848

New-York

April 29. 28

Dear Sir,

It gives me great pleasure to comply with your very flattering request for an autograph.

Respectfully

Yr Obt.. S t

Edgar A. Poe

VALENTINE, EDWARD

Edgar Allan Poe to Edward Valentine — November 20, 1848

New-York, — Nov. 20th 1848:

Dear Sir,

After a long & bitter struggle with illness, poverty, and the thousand evils which attend them, I find myself at length in a position to establish myself permanently, and to triumph over all difficulties, if I could but obtain, from some friend, a very little pecuniary aid. In looking around me for such a friend, I can think of no one, with the exception of yourself, whom I see the least prospect of interesting in my behalf — and even as regards yourself, I confess that my hope is feeble. In fact I have been so long depressed that it will be a most difficult thing for me to rise — and rise I never can without such aid as I now entreat at your hands. I call to mind, however, that, during my childhood,