by Edgar Allan Poe
First edition, first printing, bound in a black mourning binding with provenance of Civil War stateswoman and writer Jessie Burton-Freemont, wife of California senator and Army officer, John C. Fremont
New York: Wiley and Putnam, 1845. First edition. [vi], 91, [1] pp. Bound in a mourning binding, contemporary black pebble calf double ruled in blind with gilt stamped monogram "J.B.F." [Jessie Benton Fremont] on upper board; spine lettered in gilt with blind ruled bands. All edges gilt with green nonpareil marbled endpapers. Very Good with moderate rubbing to extremities, gnawing to bottom edge of textblock, gift inscription from Jessie Fremont to her husband John C. at first blank, "To Mr. Fremont / from his wife Jessie - / in memory of August 1847. / August 1848." Numerous literary notations in Fremont's hand throughout the endsheets, contents moderately foxed and toned with spots of age staining. Page 5 is torn with loss at bottom edge and abbreviated quote from The Raven written at bottom margin, "And my heart from out that shadow shall be lifted - nevermore." Chip with loss to top edge affecting 89-91 pp. Three leaves of mourning paper with various literary quotations, one a full transcript of Dinah Maria Mulock Craik's "Philip, My King", in Benton Fremont's hand. Lacking half-title.
The much sought-after first book appearance of the iconic titular poem as well as others such as "Lenore," "Eulalie," and "To Helen." Called "the most important volume of poetry that had been issued up until that time in America," by Hervey Allen in his Poe biography Israfel vol. 2, p.
Specially bound in a black mourning binding with provenance of Fremont (1824-1902). She was a woman of letters and writer, whose work primarily focused on the American West. She was heavily active in politics and was an outspoken opponent of slavery. She was the wife of John C. Fremont (1813-1890) a United States Army Officer who commanded the West during the Civil War under President Abraham Lincoln. Jessie gifted this to her husband directly after the birth of their first son, Benton Fremont b. July 24, 1848, who sadly died a year later. She likely had this bound later in memoriam of her son as most of the notations, written in her hand, on the endsheets are almost all quotations relating to and about death and tragedy. BAL 16147.