This auction is for an original 1895 EDITION of " THE COMPLETE POEMS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE TOGETHER WITH A SELECTION FROM HIS STORIES."  This is the Vignette edition with one hundred new illustrations by Victorian era, American born illustrator, Harry C. Edwards. THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR EVERY POE ENTHUSIAST!

This book is beautifully done and wonderfully put together. Any Poe fan would be delighted to have this in their collection. Everything from sonnets of love to personal depictions', morbid descriptive poems and short stories are included in this lovely ILLUSTRATED!!! volume.

When you think of the name "Poe,"  what comes to mind are the words: macabre, enticing, and fantastic. Poe practically invented the mystery tale in which the detective is an amateur who solves the problem through reason and deduction alone, such as the story of "The Murders In The Rue Morgue".  A wonderful cryptic and deductive tale is "The Gold Bug". "The Black Cat " is pure terror! The manifestation of such deep, intuitive symbols and archetypes, ones of such clarity, prophesy and terror, that even his incredible craftsmanship in language becomes transparent. It is a gift given to only the most blessed and tormented of writers. Poe's brilliance and writing is exquisite! This volume also includes his sparkling short stories and poems you love to read!

Poe is one of those authors that you have to read over again to seek all the hidden meanings and the foreshadowing. The poems offer more variety. Here, the most remarkable characteristics are taken somewhat  with "poetical rhythm", and turned it into something absolutely magical. Again, this is most evident and accessible in the classics such as "Annabel Lee", "The Bells" and "The Raven", but here it can be found, and definitely should not be ignored, in lesser known gems such as "The Haunted Palace" and "To -----" ("I heed not that my earthly lot...").

Poe's poetic way of allowing us into his brilliant mind is reflected in his works; his genre touches all of us in one way or another. Whether it is life, love, death or dreams, here are a couple  examples of his works:

 "Alone" is a 22-line poem, originally written in 1829 and left untitled and unpublished during his lifetime. "Alone" is often interpreted as autobiographical, expressing the author's feelings of isolation and inner torment. Poet Daniel Hoffman believed "Alone" was evidence that "Poe really was a haunted man." The poem, however, is an introspective about Poe's youth, written when he was only 20 years old.

 With "Annabel Lee," the speaker of the poem talks about a lost love, Annabel Lee, and may have been based on Poe's own relationship with his wife, Virginia.

"The Bells", first published after Poe's death, is a heavily onomatopoeic poem known for its repetition.

"Bridal Ballard" is unusual for Poe because it is written in the voice of a woman, specifically a recently-married bride. Despite her reassurances that she is "happy," the poem has a somber tone as it recounts a previous love who has died. In marrying, she has broken her vow to this previous lover to love him eternally.

Of course, there is "THE RAVEN", a narrative poem . It is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow descent into madness. The lover, often identified as being a student, is lamenting the loss of his love, Lenore. The raven, sitting on a bust of Pallas, seems to further instigate his distress with its constant repetition of the word "Nevermore". The poem makes use of a number of folk and classical references.