‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’, ‘The Mystery of the Marie Roget’ and ‘The Purloined Letter’ are among now famous works that are to be found in the newly discovered first issue copy of Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales shown right.
A publication of 1845, this famous work contains tales that are now widely recognised as having seen the invention of detective fiction, but in this original form the work has come to be thought of as essentially unobtainable.
Published at 50 cents as the second title in Wiley & Putnam’s ‘Library of American Books’, and still in pretty reasonable condition in its paper wrappers, this rare copy was found earlier this year in the attic of a New England home, where it appears to have lain untouched over a great many years.