The great master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, earned his living writing stories for American magazines between 1830 and his death at the age of 40 in 1849. In his short lifetime he became the pre-eminent chronicler of the unquiet mind. Fourteen of these unnerving tales and four poems are collected in Arion’s presentation. The set is composed of Poe’s Phantasia and the companion volume The Raven. The former contains three sections: “Fantasies,” “Fantasias,” and “Fever Dreams,” each of which is introduced by a celebrated poem. The Raven companion volume features seven brilliant gouache-and-chalk pastel drawings by Natalie Frank which bring into focus Lenore, the flesh-and-blood woman whose loss inspired one of the most famous refrains in English literature: Nevermore.

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The two-volume edition features Natalie Frank’s inimitable drawings throughout: the main volume with a full-page frontispiece portrait of Poe and 16 images rendered in black-and-white gouache, reminiscent of Victorian-era vignettes; the second, The Raven, a bravura treatment of one of the most translated poems in history with 7 full-page drawings specially printed in five colors.

The Deluxe edition is accompanied by an additional color print en chemise of one of Frank’s seven images for The Raven. These are reproduced in specialty acrylic inks at a larger scale than in the book on 14-¾ x 11-⅛ inch Somerset, signed by the artist, and suitable for framing.

We are pleased to offer Frank’s original drawing “Poe Vignettes” for sale: black and white gouache on Fabriano smooth, 22-½ x 30 inches. Depicted are all of the vignettes of Poe’s Phantasia, including additional imagery that does not appear in the book. The drawing is signed and suitable for framing. Please inquire for pricing.

Production Details

• Two quarto volumes, 12-⅛ by 9-⅛ inches: 176 pages (Poe’s Phantasia) and 32 pages (The Raven)

• Images for both volumes printed by offset lithography onto 90 gsm mouldmade Magnani Ingres with handset and composition metal types subsequently overprinted by letterpress

• Main volume is Smyth-sewn, square-backed with terra-cotta headbands affixed, and bound with textured paper sides over boards and a cloth spine imprinted with ivy motif by the artist and foil stamped titling

• Companion volume is hand-sewn with linen thread and bound in cloth-covered boards with foil stamped titling

• Arion Press publication # 124, 2023

The Fine Press Edition

• Cover recess contains portrait of Poe imprinted on custom made pulp paper ovals incorporating bricks excavated from Poe’s home

• Full-cloth, five-piece handmade slipcase with spine label and imprinted with creeping ivy motif by the artist

• Limited to 250 copies for sale

The Deluxe Edition

• Cover recess features three-dimensional paper cameo from pulp incorporating brick fragments and pigments from Poe’s home

• Presented in full-cloth lidded boxes that protect the bas-relief covers, with recessed labels imprinted and foil stamped with titling

• Accompanied by extra acrylic ink print

• Limited to 50 copies for sale